diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 57300ae2..84829632 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+- Fixed "couldn't find remote ref HEAD" errors when re-indexing certain repositories. [#497](https://github.com/sourcebot-dev/sourcebot/pull/497)
+
 ### Changed
 - Disable page scroll when using arrow keys on search suggestions box. [#493](https://github.com/sourcebot-dev/sourcebot/pull/493)
 
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/git.ts b/packages/backend/src/git.ts
index 56cc0f29..97b6e588 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/git.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/git.ts
@@ -27,10 +27,6 @@ export const cloneRepository = async (
         );
 
         await unsetGitConfig(path, ["remote.origin.url"]);
-
-        await git.cwd({
-            path,
-        }).addConfig("remote.origin.fetch", "+refs/heads/*:refs/heads/*");
     } catch (error: unknown) {
         const baseLog = `Failed to clone repository: ${path}`;
 
@@ -59,6 +55,7 @@ export const fetchRepository = async (
 
         await git.fetch([
             remoteUrl.toString(),
+            "+refs/heads/*:refs/heads/*",
             "--prune",
             "--progress"
         ]);