diff --git a/gitlab-ci-git-buildpackage b/gitlab-ci-git-buildpackage
index f4c52bc..38c7f29 100755
--- a/gitlab-ci-git-buildpackage
+++ b/gitlab-ci-git-buildpackage
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ if [[ ! -f $lockfile ]] ; then
     apt-get -qy autoremove --purge
     dpkg-checkbuilddeps
     echo "ensure pristine-tar branch exists and is current"
-    git fetch --all || true
+    git clean -fdx
+    git reset --hard
+    git fetch --all
     git checkout -B pristine-tar origin/pristine-tar
     echo "make $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME branch current for gbp"
     git checkout -B "$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME" "$CI_COMMIT_SHA"