diff --git a/git/remote.py b/git/remote.py
index f89e9d83c..706d2e2ae 100644
--- a/git/remote.py
+++ b/git/remote.py
@@ -519,6 +519,7 @@ def _get_fetch_info_from_stderr(self, proc, progress):
         # this also waits for the command to finish
         # Skip some progress lines that don't provide relevant information
         fetch_info_lines = list()
+        seen_refs = set()
         for line in digest_process_messages(proc.stderr, progress):
             if line.startswith('From') or line.startswith('remote: Total') or line.startswith('POST'):
                 continue
@@ -529,6 +530,9 @@ def _get_fetch_info_from_stderr(self, proc, progress):
                 raise GitCommandError(("Error when fetching: %s" % line,), 2)
             # END handle special messages
             fetch_info_lines.append(line)
+            ref = re.search(r'\b(\S+)\s+->\s', line)
+            if ref:
+                seen_refs.add(ref.group(1))
         # END for each line
         
         # read head information 
@@ -536,7 +540,7 @@ def _get_fetch_info_from_stderr(self, proc, progress):
         fetch_head_info = fp.readlines()
         fp.close()
         
-        assert len(fetch_info_lines) == len(fetch_head_info), "len(%s) != len(%s)" % (fetch_head_info, fetch_info_lines)
+        assert len(seen_refs) == len(fetch_head_info), "len(%s) != len(%s)" % (fetch_head_info, fetch_info_lines)
         
         output.extend(FetchInfo._from_line(self.repo, err_line, fetch_line) 
                         for err_line,fetch_line in zip(fetch_info_lines, fetch_head_info))