diff --git a/fetch-clone.c b/fetch-clone.c
index 81d13712962dfc..5e84c4620ff96f 100644
--- a/fetch-clone.c
+++ b/fetch-clone.c
@@ -129,10 +129,12 @@ static pid_t setup_sideband(int sideband, const char *me, int fd[2], int xd[2])
 			len--;
 			switch (buf[0] & 0xFF) {
 			case 3:
+				safe_write(2, "remote: ", 8);
 				safe_write(2, buf+1, len);
-				fprintf(stderr, "\n");
+				safe_write(2, "\n", 1);
 				exit(1);
 			case 2:
+				safe_write(2, "remote: ", 8);
 				safe_write(2, buf+1, len);
 				continue;
 			case 1: