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git fetch --dry-run can modify the repo

From
TBTyler Breisacher <matrixfrog@gmail.com>
Date
Feb 10, 2026, 05:33 UTC
Message-ID
<CAGf4dO6QQ+ZG0iWqOY4StM-_UfmH2rZsBjFUcv0ziK5qvbkTHg@mail.gmail.com>

Interesting bug we came across -- or at least I think it's a bug. In any git repo that is not a shallow clone:

$ cat .git/shallow # "No such file or directory" $ git fetch --depth=1 --dry-run $ cat .git/shallow # Prints a git sha

I would think no command should make any changes to the local repo if --dry-run is passed.

Thanks!
Tyler
Next: Jeff King
Message 1 of 2 in “git fetch --dry-run can modify the repo”
  1. Tyler BreisacherFeb 10, 2026
  2. Jeff KingFeb 10, 2026

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