diff --git a/lib/util/git/index.ts b/lib/util/git/index.ts
index 3f50ee949631634b9790bb43ca196414c07606ed..938bf1f31b26bcc52ce80b4355add1c61b7554f5 100644
--- a/lib/util/git/index.ts
+++ b/lib/util/git/index.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ function checkForPlatformFailure(err: Error): void {
     'Could not resolve host',
     'early EOF',
     'fatal: bad config', // .gitmodules problem
+    'expected flush after ref listing',
   ];
   for (const errorStr of externalHostFailureStrings) {
     if (err.message.includes(errorStr)) {
@@ -179,6 +180,7 @@ async function fetchBranchCommits(): Promise<void> {
         config.branchCommits[ref.replace('refs/heads/', '')] = sha;
       });
   } catch (err) /* istanbul ignore next */ {
+    checkForPlatformFailure(err);
     logger.debug({ err }, 'git error');
     if (err.message?.includes('Please ask the owner to check their account')) {
       throw new Error(REPOSITORY_DISABLED);