diff --git a/features/core_feature.rb b/features/core_feature.rb
index 9716d22f6..f27150b75 100644
--- a/features/core_feature.rb
+++ b/features/core_feature.rb
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@
         Dir.chdir @app.name
       end
       let(:git_config){ `git config --list` }
+      let(:git_remotes){ `git remote -v` }
 
       it "will set Git config values" do
         git_config.should match "rhc.app-id=#{app.id}"
@@ -121,6 +122,11 @@
         git_config.should match "rhc.domain-name=#{app.domain_name}"
       end
 
+      it "will set remote branches correctly" do
+        git_remotes.should match "origin"
+        git_remotes.should_not match "upstream"
+      end
+
       it "will infer the current app from the git repository" do
         r = rhc 'show-app'
         r.stdout.should match app.name
diff --git a/lib/rhc/git_helpers.rb b/lib/rhc/git_helpers.rb
index d39023b05..c0a20879a 100644
--- a/lib/rhc/git_helpers.rb
+++ b/lib/rhc/git_helpers.rb
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ def git_clone_application(app)
         git_config_set "rhc.app-id", app.id
         git_config_set "rhc.app-name", app.name
         git_config_set "rhc.domain-name", app.domain_id
+
+        git_remote_add("upstream", app.initial_git_url) if app.initial_git_url.present?
       end
 
       git_clone_deploy_hooks(repo_dir)
@@ -48,6 +50,13 @@ def git_clone_application(app)
       dir
     end
 
+    def git_remote_add(remote_name, remote_url)
+      cmd = "#{git_cmd} remote add upstream \"#{remote_url}\""
+      debug "Running #{cmd} 2>&1"
+      output = %x[#{cmd} 2>&1]
+      raise RHC::GitException, "Error while adding upstream remote - #{output}" unless output.empty?
+    end
+
     # :nocov: These all call external binaries so test them in cucumber
     def git_config_get(key)
       return nil unless has_git?
diff --git a/spec/rhc/commands/git_clone_spec.rb b/spec/rhc/commands/git_clone_spec.rb
index 479662cce..38c039336 100644
--- a/spec/rhc/commands/git_clone_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rhc/commands/git_clone_spec.rb
@@ -53,6 +53,19 @@
 
         it { expect { run }.to exit_with_code(0) }
         it { run_output.should match("Cloned") }
+
+        context 'when app has an initial git url' do
+          before do
+            @app2 = @domain.add_application("app2", "mock_unique_standalone_cart", nil, "default", "git://test")
+            @instance.stub(:git_remote_add) do |remote_name, remote_url|
+              say "Added remote #{remote_name} pointing to #{remote_url}"
+              true
+            end
+          end
+          let(:arguments) { ['git-clone', 'app2'] }
+          it { run_output.should match("Added remote upstream pointing to git://test") }
+        end
+
       end
 
       context "testing git_clone_deploy_hooks" do