diff --git a/elements/source-repositories/extra-data.d/98-source-repositories b/elements/source-repositories/extra-data.d/98-source-repositories
index 17228039f..cc15f2bfe 100755
--- a/elements/source-repositories/extra-data.d/98-source-repositories
+++ b/elements/source-repositories/extra-data.d/98-source-repositories
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ function get_repos_for_element(){
                     echo "Updating cache of $REPOLOCATION in $CACHE_PATH with ref $REPOREF"
                     # Copy named refs (which might be outside the usual heads
                     # pattern) - e.g. gerrit
-                    if [ "$REPOREF" == "*" ] || ! git --git-dir=$CACHE_PATH/.git fetch --update-head-ok $REPOLOCATION \
+                    if [ "$REPOREF" == "*" ] || ! git --git-dir=$CACHE_PATH/.git fetch --prune --update-head-ok $REPOLOCATION \
                             +${REPOREF}:${REPOREF} ; then
                         # Copy all heads from the remote repository - this permits
                         # using a SHA1 object reference so long as the object