diff --git a/modules/context/api.go b/modules/context/api.go
index e5c2eeda0..41d559f5b 100644
--- a/modules/context/api.go
+++ b/modules/context/api.go
@@ -285,36 +285,6 @@ func APIContexter() func(http.Handler) http.Handler {
 	}
 }
 
-// ReferencesGitRepo injects the GitRepo into the Context
-func ReferencesGitRepo(allowEmpty bool) func(ctx *APIContext) (cancel context.CancelFunc) {
-	return func(ctx *APIContext) (cancel context.CancelFunc) {
-		// Empty repository does not have reference information.
-		if !allowEmpty && ctx.Repo.Repository.IsEmpty {
-			return
-		}
-
-		// For API calls.
-		if ctx.Repo.GitRepo == nil {
-			repoPath := repo_model.RepoPath(ctx.Repo.Owner.Name, ctx.Repo.Repository.Name)
-			gitRepo, err := git.OpenRepository(ctx, repoPath)
-			if err != nil {
-				ctx.Error(http.StatusInternalServerError, "RepoRef Invalid repo "+repoPath, err)
-				return
-			}
-			ctx.Repo.GitRepo = gitRepo
-			// We opened it, we should close it
-			return func() {
-				// If it's been set to nil then assume someone else has closed it.
-				if ctx.Repo.GitRepo != nil {
-					ctx.Repo.GitRepo.Close()
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
-		return
-	}
-}
-
 // NotFound handles 404s for APIContext
 // String will replace message, errors will be added to a slice
 func (ctx *APIContext) NotFound(objs ...interface{}) {
@@ -340,33 +310,62 @@ func (ctx *APIContext) NotFound(objs ...interface{}) {
 	})
 }
 
-// RepoRefForAPI handles repository reference names when the ref name is not explicitly given
-func RepoRefForAPI(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
-	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
-		ctx := GetAPIContext(req)
+// ReferencesGitRepo injects the GitRepo into the Context
+// you can optional skip the IsEmpty check
+func ReferencesGitRepo(allowEmpty ...bool) func(ctx *APIContext) (cancel context.CancelFunc) {
+	return func(ctx *APIContext) (cancel context.CancelFunc) {
 		// Empty repository does not have reference information.
-		if ctx.Repo.Repository.IsEmpty {
+		if ctx.Repo.Repository.IsEmpty && !(len(allowEmpty) != 0 && allowEmpty[0]) {
 			return
 		}
 
-		var err error
-
+		// For API calls.
 		if ctx.Repo.GitRepo == nil {
 			repoPath := repo_model.RepoPath(ctx.Repo.Owner.Name, ctx.Repo.Repository.Name)
-			ctx.Repo.GitRepo, err = git.OpenRepository(ctx, repoPath)
+			gitRepo, err := git.OpenRepository(ctx, repoPath)
 			if err != nil {
-				ctx.InternalServerError(err)
+				ctx.Error(http.StatusInternalServerError, "RepoRef Invalid repo "+repoPath, err)
 				return
 			}
+			ctx.Repo.GitRepo = gitRepo
 			// We opened it, we should close it
-			defer func() {
+			return func() {
 				// If it's been set to nil then assume someone else has closed it.
 				if ctx.Repo.GitRepo != nil {
 					ctx.Repo.GitRepo.Close()
 				}
-			}()
+			}
+		}
+
+		return
+	}
+}
+
+// RepoRefForAPI handles repository reference names when the ref name is not explicitly given
+func RepoRefForAPI(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
+	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
+		ctx := GetAPIContext(req)
+
+		if ctx.Repo.GitRepo == nil {
+			ctx.InternalServerError(fmt.Errorf("no open git repo"))
+			return
+		}
+
+		if ref := ctx.FormTrim("ref"); len(ref) > 0 {
+			commit, err := ctx.Repo.GitRepo.GetCommit(ref)
+			if err != nil {
+				if git.IsErrNotExist(err) {
+					ctx.NotFound()
+				} else {
+					ctx.Error(http.StatusInternalServerError, "GetBlobByPath", err)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			ctx.Repo.Commit = commit
+			return
 		}
 
+		var err error
 		refName := getRefName(ctx.Context, RepoRefAny)
 
 		if ctx.Repo.GitRepo.IsBranchExist(refName) {
diff --git a/modules/context/repo.go b/modules/context/repo.go
index a7c9a982c..468743445 100644
--- a/modules/context/repo.go
+++ b/modules/context/repo.go
@@ -221,13 +221,21 @@ func (r *Repository) FileExists(path, branch string) (bool, error) {
 
 // GetEditorconfig returns the .editorconfig definition if found in the
 // HEAD of the default repo branch.
-func (r *Repository) GetEditorconfig() (*editorconfig.Editorconfig, error) {
+func (r *Repository) GetEditorconfig(optCommit ...*git.Commit) (*editorconfig.Editorconfig, error) {
 	if r.GitRepo == nil {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
-	commit, err := r.GitRepo.GetBranchCommit(r.Repository.DefaultBranch)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+	var (
+		err    error
+		commit *git.Commit
+	)
+	if len(optCommit) != 0 {
+		commit = optCommit[0]
+	} else {
+		commit, err = r.GitRepo.GetBranchCommit(r.Repository.DefaultBranch)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 	}
 	treeEntry, err := commit.GetTreeEntryByPath(".editorconfig")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -407,6 +415,12 @@ func RepoIDAssignment() func(ctx *Context) {
 
 // RepoAssignment returns a middleware to handle repository assignment
 func RepoAssignment(ctx *Context) (cancel context.CancelFunc) {
+	if _, repoAssignmentOnce := ctx.Data["repoAssignmentExecuted"]; repoAssignmentOnce {
+		log.Trace("RepoAssignment was exec already, skipping second call ...")
+		return
+	}
+	ctx.Data["repoAssignmentExecuted"] = true
+
 	var (
 		owner *user_model.User
 		err   error
@@ -602,6 +616,9 @@ func RepoAssignment(ctx *Context) (cancel context.CancelFunc) {
 		ctx.ServerError("RepoAssignment Invalid repo "+repo_model.RepoPath(userName, repoName), err)
 		return
 	}
+	if ctx.Repo.GitRepo != nil {
+		ctx.Repo.GitRepo.Close()
+	}
 	ctx.Repo.GitRepo = gitRepo
 
 	// We opened it, we should close it
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/api.go b/routers/api/v1/api.go
index a430eb453..aec2a6d7b 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/api.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/api.go
@@ -796,7 +796,7 @@ func Routes() *web.Route {
 						m.Combo("").Get(repo.GetHook).
 							Patch(bind(api.EditHookOption{}), repo.EditHook).
 							Delete(repo.DeleteHook)
-						m.Post("/tests", context.RepoRefForAPI, repo.TestHook)
+						m.Post("/tests", context.ReferencesGitRepo(), context.RepoRefForAPI, repo.TestHook)
 					})
 				}, reqToken(), reqAdmin(), reqWebhooksEnabled())
 				m.Group("/collaborators", func() {
@@ -813,16 +813,16 @@ func Routes() *web.Route {
 						Put(reqAdmin(), repo.AddTeam).
 						Delete(reqAdmin(), repo.DeleteTeam)
 				}, reqToken())
-				m.Get("/raw/*", context.RepoRefForAPI, reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode), repo.GetRawFile)
+				m.Get("/raw/*", context.ReferencesGitRepo(), context.RepoRefForAPI, reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode), repo.GetRawFile)
 				m.Get("/archive/*", reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode), repo.GetArchive)
 				m.Combo("/forks").Get(repo.ListForks).
 					Post(reqToken(), reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode), bind(api.CreateForkOption{}), repo.CreateFork)
 				m.Group("/branches", func() {
-					m.Get("", context.ReferencesGitRepo(false), repo.ListBranches)
-					m.Get("/*", context.ReferencesGitRepo(false), repo.GetBranch)
-					m.Delete("/*", reqRepoWriter(unit.TypeCode), context.ReferencesGitRepo(false), repo.DeleteBranch)
-					m.Post("", reqRepoWriter(unit.TypeCode), context.ReferencesGitRepo(false), bind(api.CreateBranchRepoOption{}), repo.CreateBranch)
-				}, reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode))
+					m.Get("", repo.ListBranches)
+					m.Get("/*", repo.GetBranch)
+					m.Delete("/*", reqRepoWriter(unit.TypeCode), repo.DeleteBranch)
+					m.Post("", reqRepoWriter(unit.TypeCode), bind(api.CreateBranchRepoOption{}), repo.CreateBranch)
+				}, context.ReferencesGitRepo(), reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode))
 				m.Group("/branch_protections", func() {
 					m.Get("", repo.ListBranchProtections)
 					m.Post("", bind(api.CreateBranchProtectionOption{}), repo.CreateBranchProtection)
@@ -941,10 +941,10 @@ func Routes() *web.Route {
 				})
 				m.Group("/releases", func() {
 					m.Combo("").Get(repo.ListReleases).
-						Post(reqToken(), reqRepoWriter(unit.TypeReleases), context.ReferencesGitRepo(false), bind(api.CreateReleaseOption{}), repo.CreateRelease)
+						Post(reqToken(), reqRepoWriter(unit.TypeReleases), context.ReferencesGitRepo(), bind(api.CreateReleaseOption{}), repo.CreateRelease)
 					m.Group("/{id}", func() {
 						m.Combo("").Get(repo.GetRelease).
-							Patch(reqToken(), reqRepoWriter(unit.TypeReleases), context.ReferencesGitRepo(false), bind(api.EditReleaseOption{}), repo.EditRelease).
+							Patch(reqToken(), reqRepoWriter(unit.TypeReleases), context.ReferencesGitRepo(), bind(api.EditReleaseOption{}), repo.EditRelease).
 							Delete(reqToken(), reqRepoWriter(unit.TypeReleases), repo.DeleteRelease)
 						m.Group("/assets", func() {
 							m.Combo("").Get(repo.ListReleaseAttachments).
@@ -961,7 +961,7 @@ func Routes() *web.Route {
 					})
 				}, reqRepoReader(unit.TypeReleases))
 				m.Post("/mirror-sync", reqToken(), reqRepoWriter(unit.TypeCode), repo.MirrorSync)
-				m.Get("/editorconfig/{filename}", context.RepoRefForAPI, reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode), repo.GetEditorconfig)
+				m.Get("/editorconfig/{filename}", context.ReferencesGitRepo(), context.RepoRefForAPI, reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode), repo.GetEditorconfig)
 				m.Group("/pulls", func() {
 					m.Combo("").Get(repo.ListPullRequests).
 						Post(reqToken(), mustNotBeArchived, bind(api.CreatePullRequestOption{}), repo.CreatePullRequest)
@@ -992,13 +992,13 @@ func Routes() *web.Route {
 							Delete(reqToken(), bind(api.PullReviewRequestOptions{}), repo.DeleteReviewRequests).
 							Post(reqToken(), bind(api.PullReviewRequestOptions{}), repo.CreateReviewRequests)
 					})
-				}, mustAllowPulls, reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode), context.ReferencesGitRepo(false))
+				}, mustAllowPulls, reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode), context.ReferencesGitRepo())
 				m.Group("/statuses", func() {
 					m.Combo("/{sha}").Get(repo.GetCommitStatuses).
 						Post(reqToken(), bind(api.CreateStatusOption{}), repo.NewCommitStatus)
 				}, reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode))
 				m.Group("/commits", func() {
-					m.Get("", context.ReferencesGitRepo(false), repo.GetAllCommits)
+					m.Get("", context.ReferencesGitRepo(), repo.GetAllCommits)
 					m.Group("/{ref}", func() {
 						m.Get("/status", repo.GetCombinedCommitStatusByRef)
 						m.Get("/statuses", repo.GetCommitStatusesByRef)
@@ -1006,16 +1006,16 @@ func Routes() *web.Route {
 				}, reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode))
 				m.Group("/git", func() {
 					m.Group("/commits", func() {
-						m.Get("/{sha}", context.ReferencesGitRepo(false), repo.GetSingleCommit)
+						m.Get("/{sha}", repo.GetSingleCommit)
 						m.Get("/{sha}.{diffType:diff|patch}", repo.DownloadCommitDiffOrPatch)
 					})
 					m.Get("/refs", repo.GetGitAllRefs)
 					m.Get("/refs/*", repo.GetGitRefs)
-					m.Get("/trees/{sha}", context.RepoRefForAPI, repo.GetTree)
-					m.Get("/blobs/{sha}", context.RepoRefForAPI, repo.GetBlob)
-					m.Get("/tags/{sha}", context.RepoRefForAPI, repo.GetAnnotatedTag)
+					m.Get("/trees/{sha}", repo.GetTree)
+					m.Get("/blobs/{sha}", repo.GetBlob)
+					m.Get("/tags/{sha}", repo.GetAnnotatedTag)
 					m.Get("/notes/{sha}", repo.GetNote)
-				}, reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode))
+				}, context.ReferencesGitRepo(), reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode))
 				m.Post("/diffpatch", reqRepoWriter(unit.TypeCode), reqToken(), bind(api.ApplyDiffPatchFileOptions{}), repo.ApplyDiffPatch)
 				m.Group("/contents", func() {
 					m.Get("", repo.GetContentsList)
@@ -1035,7 +1035,7 @@ func Routes() *web.Route {
 							Delete(reqToken(), repo.DeleteTopic)
 					}, reqAdmin())
 				}, reqAnyRepoReader())
-				m.Get("/issue_templates", context.ReferencesGitRepo(false), repo.GetIssueTemplates)
+				m.Get("/issue_templates", context.ReferencesGitRepo(), repo.GetIssueTemplates)
 				m.Get("/languages", reqRepoReader(unit.TypeCode), repo.GetLanguages)
 			}, repoAssignment())
 		})
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/blob.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/blob.go
index 19d893a68..035f2dc1e 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/blob.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/blob.go
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ func GetBlob(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		ctx.Error(http.StatusBadRequest, "", "sha not provided")
 		return
 	}
-	if blob, err := files_service.GetBlobBySHA(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, sha); err != nil {
+
+	if blob, err := files_service.GetBlobBySHA(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, ctx.Repo.GitRepo, sha); err != nil {
 		ctx.Error(http.StatusBadRequest, "", err)
 	} else {
 		ctx.JSON(http.StatusOK, blob)
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/commits.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/commits.go
index b6c47e068..c79c34ec4 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/commits.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/commits.go
@@ -269,6 +269,7 @@ func DownloadCommitDiffOrPatch(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	//   "404":
 	//     "$ref": "#/responses/notFound"
 	repoPath := repo_model.RepoPath(ctx.Repo.Owner.Name, ctx.Repo.Repository.Name)
+	// TODO: use gitRepo from context
 	if err := git.GetRawDiff(
 		ctx,
 		repoPath,
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/file.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/file.go
index a4811b370..ed51f6f4d 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/file.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/file.go
@@ -62,22 +62,7 @@ func GetRawFile(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	commit := ctx.Repo.Commit
-
-	if ref := ctx.FormTrim("ref"); len(ref) > 0 {
-		var err error
-		commit, err = ctx.Repo.GitRepo.GetCommit(ref)
-		if err != nil {
-			if git.IsErrNotExist(err) {
-				ctx.NotFound()
-			} else {
-				ctx.Error(http.StatusInternalServerError, "GetBlobByPath", err)
-			}
-			return
-		}
-	}
-
-	blob, err := commit.GetBlobByPath(ctx.Repo.TreePath)
+	blob, err := ctx.Repo.Commit.GetBlobByPath(ctx.Repo.TreePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		if git.IsErrNotExist(err) {
 			ctx.NotFound()
@@ -157,13 +142,18 @@ func GetEditorconfig(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	//   description: filepath of file to get
 	//   type: string
 	//   required: true
+	// - name: ref
+	//   in: query
+	//   description: "The name of the commit/branch/tag. Default the repository’s default branch (usually master)"
+	//   type: string
+	//   required: false
 	// responses:
 	//   200:
 	//     description: success
 	//   "404":
 	//     "$ref": "#/responses/notFound"
 
-	ec, err := ctx.Repo.GetEditorconfig()
+	ec, err := ctx.Repo.GetEditorconfig(ctx.Repo.Commit)
 	if err != nil {
 		if git.IsErrNotExist(err) {
 			ctx.NotFound(err)
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/hook.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/hook.go
index c79a1d6b1..7ec6cd88a 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/hook.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/hook.go
@@ -138,6 +138,11 @@ func TestHook(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	//   type: integer
 	//   format: int64
 	//   required: true
+	// - name: ref
+	//   in: query
+	//   description: "The name of the commit/branch/tag. Default the repository’s default branch (usually master)"
+	//   type: string
+	//   required: false
 	// responses:
 	//   "204":
 	//     "$ref": "#/responses/empty"
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/notes.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/notes.go
index f85883566..bd8e27e40 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/notes.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/notes.go
@@ -55,15 +55,13 @@ func GetNote(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 }
 
 func getNote(ctx *context.APIContext, identifier string) {
-	gitRepo, err := git.OpenRepository(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.RepoPath())
-	if err != nil {
-		ctx.Error(http.StatusInternalServerError, "OpenRepository", err)
+	if ctx.Repo.GitRepo == nil {
+		ctx.InternalServerError(fmt.Errorf("no open git repo"))
 		return
 	}
-	defer gitRepo.Close()
+
 	var note git.Note
-	err = git.GetNote(ctx, gitRepo, identifier, &note)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := git.GetNote(ctx, ctx.Repo.GitRepo, identifier, &note); err != nil {
 		if git.IsErrNotExist(err) {
 			ctx.NotFound(identifier)
 			return
@@ -72,7 +70,7 @@ func getNote(ctx *context.APIContext, identifier string) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	cmt, err := convert.ToCommit(ctx.Repo.Repository, gitRepo, note.Commit, nil)
+	cmt, err := convert.ToCommit(ctx.Repo.Repository, ctx.Repo.GitRepo, note.Commit, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		ctx.Error(http.StatusInternalServerError, "ToCommit", err)
 		return
diff --git a/services/repository/files/content.go b/services/repository/files/content.go
index 9037a8434..2237671a6 100644
--- a/services/repository/files/content.go
+++ b/services/repository/files/content.go
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ func GetContents(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, treePath, ref
 	// Now populate the rest of the ContentsResponse based on entry type
 	if entry.IsRegular() || entry.IsExecutable() {
 		contentsResponse.Type = string(ContentTypeRegular)
-		if blobResponse, err := GetBlobBySHA(ctx, repo, entry.ID.String()); err != nil {
+		if blobResponse, err := GetBlobBySHA(ctx, repo, gitRepo, entry.ID.String()); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		} else if !forList {
 			// We don't show the content if we are getting a list of FileContentResponses
@@ -220,12 +220,7 @@ func GetContents(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, treePath, ref
 }
 
 // GetBlobBySHA get the GitBlobResponse of a repository using a sha hash.
-func GetBlobBySHA(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, sha string) (*api.GitBlobResponse, error) {
-	gitRepo, closer, err := git.RepositoryFromContextOrOpen(ctx, repo.RepoPath())
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	defer closer.Close()
+func GetBlobBySHA(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, gitRepo *git.Repository, sha string) (*api.GitBlobResponse, error) {
 	gitBlob, err := gitRepo.GetBlob(sha)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/services/repository/files/content_test.go b/services/repository/files/content_test.go
index 8a3e589bd..342ebae32 100644
--- a/services/repository/files/content_test.go
+++ b/services/repository/files/content_test.go
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
+	repo_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/repo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/unittest"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
 	api "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/structs"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/test"
 
@@ -234,7 +236,12 @@ func TestGetBlobBySHA(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx.SetParams(":id", "1")
 	ctx.SetParams(":sha", sha)
 
-	gbr, err := GetBlobBySHA(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, ctx.Params(":sha"))
+	gitRepo, err := git.OpenRepository(ctx, repo_model.RepoPath(ctx.Repo.Owner.Name, ctx.Repo.Repository.Name))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fail()
+	}
+
+	gbr, err := GetBlobBySHA(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, gitRepo, ctx.Params(":sha"))
 	expectedGBR := &api.GitBlobResponse{
 		Content:  "dHJlZSAyYTJmMWQ0NjcwNzI4YTJlMTAwNDllMzQ1YmQ3YTI3NjQ2OGJlYWI2CmF1dGhvciB1c2VyMSA8YWRkcmVzczFAZXhhbXBsZS5jb20+IDE0ODk5NTY0NzkgLTA0MDAKY29tbWl0dGVyIEV0aGFuIEtvZW5pZyA8ZXRoYW50a29lbmlnQGdtYWlsLmNvbT4gMTQ4OTk1NjQ3OSAtMDQwMAoKSW5pdGlhbCBjb21taXQK",
 		Encoding: "base64",
diff --git a/templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl b/templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl
index de74fd8fa..0374a53a6 100644
--- a/templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl
+++ b/templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl
@@ -3668,6 +3668,12 @@
             "name": "filepath",
             "in": "path",
             "required": true
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "string",
+            "description": "The name of the commit/branch/tag. Default the repository’s default branch (usually master)",
+            "name": "ref",
+            "in": "query"
           }
         ],
         "responses": {
@@ -4559,6 +4565,12 @@
             "name": "id",
             "in": "path",
             "required": true
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "string",
+            "description": "The name of the commit/branch/tag. Default the repository’s default branch (usually master)",
+            "name": "ref",
+            "in": "query"
           }
         ],
         "responses": {