diff --git a/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/enginetest/dolt_queries.go b/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/enginetest/dolt_queries.go
index 8f0d881a35..15118cc57b 100644
--- a/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/enginetest/dolt_queries.go
+++ b/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/enginetest/dolt_queries.go
@@ -2791,6 +2791,35 @@ var BranchesSystemTableTests = []queries.ScriptTest{
 			},
 		},
 	},
+	{
+		Name: "foreign keys referencing dolt_branches cannot use referential actions",
+		SetUpScript: []string{
+			"CREATE TABLE ext_branch_metadata(branch_name varchar(300) primary key, owner varchar(255));",
+		},
+		Assertions: []queries.ScriptTestAssertion{
+			{
+				Query:          "ALTER TABLE ext_branch_metadata ADD CONSTRAINT fk123 FOREIGN KEY (branch_name) REFERENCES dolt_branches(name) ON DELETE CASCADE;",
+				ExpectedErrStr: "foreign keys referencing Dolt system tables do not support referential actions",
+			},
+			{
+				Query:          "ALTER TABLE ext_branch_metadata ADD CONSTRAINT fk123 FOREIGN KEY (branch_name) REFERENCES dolt_branches(name) ON UPDATE CASCADE;",
+				ExpectedErrStr: "foreign keys referencing Dolt system tables do not support referential actions",
+			},
+			{
+				Query:          "ALTER TABLE ext_branch_metadata ADD CONSTRAINT fk123 FOREIGN KEY (branch_name) REFERENCES dolt_branches(name) ON DELETE RESTRICT;",
+				ExpectedErrStr: "foreign keys referencing Dolt system tables do not support referential actions",
+			},
+			{
+				Query:          "ALTER TABLE ext_branch_metadata ADD CONSTRAINT fk123 FOREIGN KEY (branch_name) REFERENCES dolt_branches(name) ON UPDATE RESTRICT;",
+				ExpectedErrStr: "foreign keys referencing Dolt system tables do not support referential actions",
+			},
+			{
+				// Explicitly using "NO ACTION" is allowed
+				Query:    "ALTER TABLE ext_branch_metadata ADD CONSTRAINT fk123 FOREIGN KEY (branch_name) REFERENCES dolt_branches(name) ON DELETE NO ACTION ON UPDATE NO ACTION;",
+				Expected: []sql.Row{{types.NewOkResult(0)}},
+			},
+		},
+	},
 	{
 		Name: "dolt_branches.name index",
 		SetUpScript: []string{
diff --git a/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/tables.go b/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/tables.go
index c5f2d73d39..c4a58ff79e 100644
--- a/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/tables.go
+++ b/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/tables.go
@@ -2658,6 +2658,22 @@ func (t *WritableDoltTable) createForeignKey(
 				return doltdb.ForeignKey{}, err
 			}
 		} else {
+			// FKs referencing system tables, like dolt_branches, that are not backed by a real
+			// Dolt table, do not currently allow non-default referential actions. Other system
+			// tables, like the dolt_ci_ system tables, are backed by dolt tables and rely on
+			// referential actions to work properly.
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(strings.ToLower(sqlFk.ParentTable), "dolt_ci_") {
+				if sqlFk.OnDelete != sql.ForeignKeyReferentialAction_NoAction &&
+					sqlFk.OnDelete != sql.ForeignKeyReferentialAction_DefaultAction {
+					return doltdb.ForeignKey{}, fmt.Errorf(
+						"foreign keys referencing Dolt system tables do not support referential actions")
+				} else if sqlFk.OnUpdate != sql.ForeignKeyReferentialAction_NoAction &&
+					sqlFk.OnUpdate != sql.ForeignKeyReferentialAction_DefaultAction {
+					return doltdb.ForeignKey{}, fmt.Errorf(
+						"foreign keys referencing Dolt system tables do not support referential actions")
+				}
+			}
+
 			sqlRefTbl, ok, err := t.db.GetTableInsensitive(ctx, sqlFk.ParentTable)
 			if err != nil {
 				return doltdb.ForeignKey{}, err