diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.d/check-dco.py b/.gitlab-ci.d/check-dco.py
index 70dec7d6ee..2fd56683dc 100755
--- a/.gitlab-ci.d/check-dco.py
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.d/check-dco.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ repourl = "https://gitlab.com/%s/%s.git" % (namespace, reponame)
 
 print(f"adding upstream git repo @ {repourl}")
 subprocess.check_call(["git", "remote", "add", "check-dco", repourl])
-subprocess.check_call(["git", "fetch", "check-dco", "master"])
+subprocess.check_call(["git", "fetch", "--refetch", "check-dco", "master"])
 
 ancestor = subprocess.check_output(["git", "merge-base",
                                     "check-dco/master", "HEAD"],
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.d/check-patch.py b/.gitlab-ci.d/check-patch.py
index 68c549a146..be13e6f77d 100755
--- a/.gitlab-ci.d/check-patch.py
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.d/check-patch.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ print(f"adding upstream git repo @ {repourl}")
 # base for the user's branch. We thus need to figure out a common
 # ancestor between the user's branch and current git master.
 subprocess.check_call(["git", "remote", "add", "check-patch", repourl])
-subprocess.check_call(["git", "fetch", "check-patch", "master"])
+subprocess.check_call(["git", "fetch", "--refetch", "check-patch", "master"])
 
 ancestor = subprocess.check_output(["git", "merge-base",
                                     "check-patch/master", "HEAD"],