diff --git a/src/clone.c b/src/clone.c
index 8f10ca819..0665576e3 100644
--- a/src/clone.c
+++ b/src/clone.c
@@ -323,9 +323,11 @@ static int create_and_configure_origin(
 	    (error = git_remote_set_callbacks(origin, options->remote_callbacks)) < 0)
 		goto on_error;
 
-	if (options->fetch_spec &&
-	    (error = git_remote_add_fetch(origin, options->fetch_spec)) < 0)
-		goto on_error;
+	if (options->fetch_spec) {
+		git_remote_clear_refspecs(origin);
+		if ((error = git_remote_add_fetch(origin, options->fetch_spec)) < 0)
+			goto on_error;
+	}
 
 	if (options->push_spec &&
 	    (error = git_remote_add_push(origin, options->push_spec)) < 0)
diff --git a/tests-clar/clone/nonetwork.c b/tests-clar/clone/nonetwork.c
index 506673737..02066e07d 100644
--- a/tests-clar/clone/nonetwork.c
+++ b/tests-clar/clone/nonetwork.c
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ void test_clone_nonetwork__custom_fetch_spec(void)
 	cl_git_pass(git_clone(&g_repo, cl_git_fixture_url("testrepo.git"), "./foo", &g_options));
 
 	cl_git_pass(git_remote_load(&g_remote, g_repo, "origin"));
-	actual_fs = git_vector_get(&g_remote->refspecs, g_remote->refspecs.length - 1);
+	actual_fs = git_vector_get(&g_remote->refspecs, 0);
 	cl_assert_equal_s("refs/heads/master", git_refspec_src(actual_fs));
 	cl_assert_equal_s("refs/heads/foo", git_refspec_dst(actual_fs));