diff --git a/crates/cli/src/repo/tests/handlers/clone_repo.rs b/crates/cli/src/repo/tests/handlers/clone_repo.rs
index c953ae6..94f6aa2 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/repo/tests/handlers/clone_repo.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/repo/tests/handlers/clone_repo.rs
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ async fn should_open() -> TestResult {
     //given
     let fs = given::a_filesystem();
     let (mut open_repository, repo_details) = given::an_open_repository(&fs);
+    open_repository
+        .expect_fetch()
+        .times(1)
+        .return_once(|| Ok(()));
     given::has_all_valid_remote_defaults(&mut open_repository, &repo_details);
     // factory opens a repository
     let mut repository_factory = MockRepositoryFactory::new();
@@ -79,6 +83,10 @@ async fn when_server_has_no_repo_config_should_send_load_from_repo() -> TestResu
     //given
     let fs = given::a_filesystem();
     let (mut open_repository, mut repo_details) = given::an_open_repository(&fs);
+    open_repository
+        .expect_fetch()
+        .times(1)
+        .return_once(|| Ok(()));
     #[allow(clippy::unwrap_used)]
     let _repo_config = repo_details.repo_config.take().unwrap();
 
@@ -106,6 +114,10 @@ async fn when_server_has_repo_config_should_send_register_webhook() -> TestResul
     //given
     let fs = given::a_filesystem();
     let (mut open_repository, repo_details) = given::an_open_repository(&fs);
+    open_repository
+        .expect_fetch()
+        .times(1)
+        .return_once(|| Ok(()));
     #[allow(clippy::unwrap_used)]
     given::has_all_valid_remote_defaults(&mut open_repository, &repo_details);
 
@@ -129,6 +141,10 @@ async fn opened_repo_with_no_default_push_should_not_proceed() -> TestResult {
     //given
     let fs = given::a_filesystem();
     let (mut open_repository, repo_details) = given::an_open_repository(&fs);
+    open_repository
+        .expect_fetch()
+        .times(1)
+        .return_once(|| Ok(()));
 
     given::has_remote_defaults(
         &mut open_repository,
@@ -158,15 +174,10 @@ async fn opened_repo_with_no_default_fetch_should_not_proceed() -> TestResult {
     //given
     let fs = given::a_filesystem();
     let (mut open_repository, repo_details) = given::an_open_repository(&fs);
-
-    given::has_remote_defaults(
-        &mut open_repository,
-        HashMap::from([
-            (Direction::Push, repo_details.remote_url()),
-            (Direction::Fetch, None),
-        ]),
-    );
-
+    open_repository
+        .expect_fetch()
+        .times(1)
+        .return_once(|| Err(git::fetch::Error::NoFetchRemoteFound));
     let mut repository_factory = MockRepositoryFactory::new();
     expect::open_repository(&mut repository_factory, open_repository);
     fs.dir_create(&repo_details.gitdir)?;
diff --git a/crates/core/src/git/repository/mod.rs b/crates/core/src/git/repository/mod.rs
index fd038f2..c93ab81 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/git/repository/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/git/repository/mod.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 //
 use crate::{
     git::{
+        self,
         repository::{
             open::{OpenRepository, OpenRepositoryLike},
             test::TestRepository,
@@ -47,7 +48,9 @@ pub fn open(
 ) -> Result<Box<dyn OpenRepositoryLike>> {
     let open_repository = if repo_details.gitdir.exists() {
         info!("Local copy found - opening...");
-        repository_factory.open(repo_details)?
+        let repo = repository_factory.open(repo_details)?;
+        repo.fetch()?;
+        repo
     } else {
         info!("Local copy not found - cloning...");
         repository_factory.git_clone(repo_details)?
@@ -117,6 +120,9 @@ pub enum Error {
     #[error("git clone: {0}")]
     Clone(String),
 
+    #[error("git fetch: {0}")]
+    FetchError(#[from] git::fetch::Error),
+
     #[error("open: {0}")]
     Open(String),
 
diff --git a/crates/core/src/git/repository/open/oreal.rs b/crates/core/src/git/repository/open/oreal.rs
index dd8e584..578f159 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/git/repository/open/oreal.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/git/repository/open/oreal.rs
@@ -67,6 +67,13 @@ impl super::OpenRepositoryLike for RealOpenRepository {
     #[tracing::instrument(skip_all)]
     #[cfg(not(tarpaulin_include))] // would require writing to external service
     fn fetch(&self) -> Result<(), git::fetch::Error> {
+        if self
+            .find_default_remote(git::repository::Direction::Fetch)
+            .is_none()
+        {
+            return Err(git::fetch::Error::NoFetchRemoteFound);
+        }
+        info!("Fetching");
         gix::command::prepare("/usr/bin/git fetch --prune")
             .with_context(gix::diff::command::Context {
                 git_dir: Some(