diff --git a/pre_commit/git.py b/pre_commit/git.py
index 3d3f58016..6d8da55fd 100644
--- a/pre_commit/git.py
+++ b/pre_commit/git.py
@@ -236,8 +236,11 @@ def get_best_candidate_tag(rev: str, git_repo: str) -> str:
     Multiple tags can exist on a SHA. Sometimes a moving tag is attached
     to a version tag. Try to pick the tag that looks like a version.
     """
+    commit = cmd_output(
+        'git', 'rev-list', '-n', '1', rev, cwd=git_repo,
+    )[1].strip()
     tags = cmd_output(
-        'git', *NO_FS_MONITOR, 'tag', '--points-at', rev, cwd=git_repo,
+        'git', *NO_FS_MONITOR, 'tag', '--points-at', commit, cwd=git_repo,
     )[1].splitlines()
     for tag in tags:
         if '.' in tag:
diff --git a/tests/commands/autoupdate_test.py b/tests/commands/autoupdate_test.py
index cbf22f393..6fb8c5ab4 100644
--- a/tests/commands/autoupdate_test.py
+++ b/tests/commands/autoupdate_test.py
@@ -49,6 +49,13 @@ def tagged(out_of_date):
     yield out_of_date
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def multiple_tagged(out_of_date):
+    cmd_output('git', 'tag', 'v1', cwd=out_of_date.path)
+    cmd_output('git', 'tag', 'v1.2.3', cwd=out_of_date.path)
+    yield out_of_date
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def hook_disappearing(tempdir_factory):
     path = make_repo(tempdir_factory, 'python_hooks_repo')
@@ -102,6 +109,17 @@ def test_rev_info_update_tags_only_does_not_pick_tip(tagged):
     assert new_info.rev == 'v1.2.3'
 
 
+def test_rev_info_update_tags_prefers_semver_tag(multiple_tagged):
+    git_commit(cwd=multiple_tagged.path)
+    config = make_config_from_repo(
+        multiple_tagged.path,
+        rev=multiple_tagged.original_rev,
+    )
+    info = RevInfo.from_config(config)
+    new_info = info.update(tags_only=True, freeze=False)
+    assert new_info.rev == 'v1.2.3'
+
+
 def test_rev_info_update_tags_prefers_version_tag(tagged, out_of_date):
     cmd_output('git', 'tag', 'latest', cwd=out_of_date.path)
     config = make_config_from_repo(tagged.path, rev=tagged.original_rev)
diff --git a/tests/git_test.py b/tests/git_test.py
index 763aa0de5..c65997040 100644
--- a/tests/git_test.py
+++ b/tests/git_test.py
@@ -302,3 +302,18 @@ def test_no_git_env():
 def test_init_repo_no_hooks(tmpdir):
     git.init_repo(str(tmpdir), remote='dne')
     assert not tmpdir.join('.git/hooks').exists()
+
+
+def test_get_best_candidate_tag(in_git_dir):
+    git_commit()
+    cmd_output('git', 'tag', 'v1')
+    cmd_output('git', 'tag', 'v1.0.1')
+    commit = cmd_output(
+        'git', 'rev-list', '-n', '1', 'v1', cwd=in_git_dir,
+    )[1].strip()
+    tags = cmd_output(
+        'git', *git.NO_FS_MONITOR, 'tag',
+        '--points-at', commit, cwd=in_git_dir,
+    )[1].splitlines()
+    assert tags == ['v1', 'v1.0.1']
+    assert git.get_best_candidate_tag('v1', in_git_dir) == 'v1.0.1'