diff --git a/git-remote-testgit.sh b/git-remote-testgit.sh
index a9c75a236..752c763eb 100755
--- a/git-remote-testgit.sh
+++ b/git-remote-testgit.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # Copyright (c) 2012 Felipe Contreras
 
-alias=$1
+# The first argument can be a url when the fetch/push command was a url
+# instead of a configured remote. In this case, use a generic alias.
+if test "$1" = "testgit::$2"; then
+	alias=_
+else
+	alias=$1
+fi
 url=$2
 
 dir="$GIT_DIR/testgit/$alias"
diff --git a/t/t5801-remote-helpers.sh b/t/t5801-remote-helpers.sh
index 241940754..c9d3ed14c 100755
--- a/t/t5801-remote-helpers.sh
+++ b/t/t5801-remote-helpers.sh
@@ -281,4 +281,28 @@ test_expect_success 'push messages' '
 	)
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'fetch HEAD' '
+	(cd server &&
+	git checkout master &&
+	echo more >>file &&
+	git commit -a -m more
+	) &&
+	(cd local &&
+	git fetch origin HEAD
+	) &&
+	compare_refs server HEAD local FETCH_HEAD
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'fetch url' '
+	(cd server &&
+	git checkout master &&
+	echo more >>file &&
+	git commit -a -m more
+	) &&
+	(cd local &&
+	git fetch "testgit::${PWD}/../server"
+	) &&
+	compare_refs server HEAD local FETCH_HEAD
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index 0224687a2..27c82f73a 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -356,7 +356,8 @@ static int fetch_with_fetch(struct transport *transport,
 			continue;
 
 		strbuf_addf(&buf, "fetch %s %s\n",
-			    sha1_to_hex(posn->old_sha1), posn->name);
+			    sha1_to_hex(posn->old_sha1),
+			    posn->symref ? posn->symref : posn->name);
 	}
 
 	strbuf_addch(&buf, '\n');
@@ -454,7 +455,8 @@ static int fetch_with_import(struct transport *transport,
 		if (posn->status & REF_STATUS_UPTODATE)
 			continue;
 
-		strbuf_addf(&buf, "import %s\n", posn->name);
+		strbuf_addf(&buf, "import %s\n",
+			    posn->symref ? posn->symref : posn->name);
 		sendline(data, &buf);
 		strbuf_reset(&buf);
 	}
@@ -487,14 +489,15 @@ static int fetch_with_import(struct transport *transport,
 	 * fast-forward or this is a forced update.
 	 */
 	for (i = 0; i < nr_heads; i++) {
-		char *private;
+		char *private, *name;
 		posn = to_fetch[i];
 		if (posn->status & REF_STATUS_UPTODATE)
 			continue;
+		name = posn->symref ? posn->symref : posn->name;
 		if (data->refspecs)
-			private = apply_refspecs(data->refspecs, data->refspec_nr, posn->name);
+			private = apply_refspecs(data->refspecs, data->refspec_nr, name);
 		else
-			private = xstrdup(posn->name);
+			private = xstrdup(name);
 		if (private) {
 			read_ref(private, posn->old_sha1);
 			free(private);