diff --git a/pkg/cmd/pr/checkout/checkout.go b/pkg/cmd/pr/checkout/checkout.go
index c73d90339..f289a3919 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/pr/checkout/checkout.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/pr/checkout/checkout.go
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ func cmdsForExistingRemote(remote *cliContext.Remote, pr *api.PullRequest, opts
 		refSpec += fmt.Sprintf(":refs/remotes/%s", remoteBranch)
 	}
 
-	cmds = append(cmds, []string{"fetch", remote.Name, refSpec})
+	cmds = append(cmds, []string{"fetch", remote.Name, refSpec, "--no-tags"})
 
 	localBranch := pr.HeadRefName
 	if opts.BranchName != "" {
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ func cmdsForMissingRemote(pr *api.PullRequest, baseURLOrName, repoHost, defaultB
 	ref := fmt.Sprintf("refs/pull/%d/head", pr.Number)
 
 	if opts.Detach {
-		cmds = append(cmds, []string{"fetch", baseURLOrName, ref})
+		cmds = append(cmds, []string{"fetch", baseURLOrName, ref, "--no-tags"})
 		cmds = append(cmds, []string{"checkout", "--detach", "FETCH_HEAD"})
 		return cmds
 	}
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ func cmdsForMissingRemote(pr *api.PullRequest, baseURLOrName, repoHost, defaultB
 	currentBranch, _ := opts.Branch()
 	if localBranch == currentBranch {
 		// PR head matches currently checked out branch
-		cmds = append(cmds, []string{"fetch", baseURLOrName, ref})
+		cmds = append(cmds, []string{"fetch", baseURLOrName, ref, "--no-tags"})
 		if opts.Force {
 			cmds = append(cmds, []string{"reset", "--hard", "FETCH_HEAD"})
 		} else {
@@ -226,13 +226,12 @@ func cmdsForMissingRemote(pr *api.PullRequest, baseURLOrName, repoHost, defaultB
 			cmds = append(cmds, []string{"merge", "--ff-only", "FETCH_HEAD"})
 		}
 	} else {
+		// TODO: check if non-fast-forward and suggest to use `--force`
+		fetchCmd := []string{"fetch", baseURLOrName, fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", ref, localBranch), "--no-tags"}
 		if opts.Force {
-			cmds = append(cmds, []string{"fetch", baseURLOrName, fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", ref, localBranch), "--force"})
-		} else {
-			// TODO: check if non-fast-forward and suggest to use `--force`
-			cmds = append(cmds, []string{"fetch", baseURLOrName, fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", ref, localBranch)})
+			fetchCmd = append(fetchCmd, "--force")
 		}
-
+		cmds = append(cmds, fetchCmd)
 		cmds = append(cmds, []string{"checkout", localBranch})
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/pr/checkout/checkout_test.go b/pkg/cmd/pr/checkout/checkout_test.go
index bd8bc3984..d4a8bbd5e 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/pr/checkout/checkout_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/pr/checkout/checkout_test.go
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func Test_checkoutRun(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			runStubs: func(cs *run.CommandStubber) {
 				cs.Register(`git show-ref --verify -- refs/heads/feature`, 1, "")
-				cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature`, 0, "")
+				cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 				cs.Register(`git checkout -b feature --track origin/feature`, 0, "")
 			},
 		},
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ func Test_checkoutRun(t *testing.T) {
 				"origin": "OWNER/REPO",
 			},
 			runStubs: func(cs *run.CommandStubber) {
-				cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:feature`, 0, "")
+				cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 				cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.merge`, 1, "")
 				cs.Register(`git checkout feature`, 0, "")
 				cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.remote origin`, 0, "")
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ func Test_checkoutRun(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			runStubs: func(cs *run.CommandStubber) {
 				cs.Register(`git show-ref --verify -- refs/heads/foobar`, 1, "")
-				cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature`, 0, "")
+				cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 				cs.Register(`git checkout -b foobar --track origin/feature`, 0, "")
 			},
 		},
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ func Test_checkoutRun(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			runStubs: func(cs *run.CommandStubber) {
 				cs.Register(`git config branch\.foobar\.merge`, 1, "")
-				cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:foobar`, 0, "")
+				cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:foobar --no-tags`, 0, "")
 				cs.Register(`git checkout foobar`, 0, "")
 				cs.Register(`git config branch\.foobar\.remote https://github.com/hubot/REPO.git`, 0, "")
 				cs.Register(`git config branch\.foobar\.pushRemote https://github.com/hubot/REPO.git`, 0, "")
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ func Test_checkoutRun(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			runStubs: func(cs *run.CommandStubber) {
 				cs.Register(`git show-ref --verify -- refs/heads/feature`, 1, "")
-				cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature`, 0, "")
+				cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 				cs.Register(`git checkout -b feature --track origin/feature`, 0, "")
 			},
 			remotes: map[string]string{
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ func TestPRCheckout_sameRepo(t *testing.T) {
 	cs, cmdTeardown := run.Stub()
 	defer cmdTeardown(t)
 
-	cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git show-ref --verify -- refs/heads/feature`, 1, "")
 	cs.Register(`git checkout -b feature --track origin/feature`, 0, "")
 
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ func TestPRCheckout_existingBranch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cs, cmdTeardown := run.Stub()
 	defer cmdTeardown(t)
-	cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git show-ref --verify -- refs/heads/feature`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git checkout feature`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git merge --ff-only refs/remotes/origin/feature`, 0, "")
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ func TestPRCheckout_differentRepo_remoteExists(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cs, cmdTeardown := run.Stub()
 	defer cmdTeardown(t)
-	cs.Register(`git fetch robot-fork \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/robot-fork/feature`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git fetch robot-fork \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/robot-fork/feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git show-ref --verify -- refs/heads/feature`, 1, "")
 	cs.Register(`git checkout -b feature --track robot-fork/feature`, 0, "")
 
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ func TestPRCheckout_differentRepo(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cs, cmdTeardown := run.Stub()
 	defer cmdTeardown(t)
-	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:feature`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.merge`, 1, "")
 	cs.Register(`git checkout feature`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.remote origin`, 0, "")
@@ -501,6 +501,29 @@ func TestPRCheckout_differentRepo(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "", output.Stderr())
 }
 
+func TestPRCheckout_differentRepoForce(t *testing.T) {
+	http := &httpmock.Registry{}
+	defer http.Verify(t)
+
+	baseRepo, pr := stubPR("OWNER/REPO:master", "hubot/REPO:feature")
+	finder := shared.RunCommandFinder("123", pr, baseRepo)
+	finder.ExpectFields([]string{"number", "headRefName", "headRepository", "headRepositoryOwner", "isCrossRepository", "maintainerCanModify"})
+
+	cs, cmdTeardown := run.Stub()
+	defer cmdTeardown(t)
+	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:feature --no-tags --force`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.merge`, 1, "")
+	cs.Register(`git checkout feature`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.remote origin`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.pushRemote origin`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.merge refs/pull/123/head`, 0, "")
+
+	output, err := runCommand(http, nil, "master", `123 --force`, baseRepo)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "", output.String())
+	assert.Equal(t, "", output.Stderr())
+}
+
 func TestPRCheckout_differentRepo_existingBranch(t *testing.T) {
 	http := &httpmock.Registry{}
 	defer http.Verify(t)
@@ -510,7 +533,7 @@ func TestPRCheckout_differentRepo_existingBranch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cs, cmdTeardown := run.Stub()
 	defer cmdTeardown(t)
-	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:feature`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.merge`, 0, "refs/heads/feature\n")
 	cs.Register(`git checkout feature`, 0, "")
 
@@ -529,7 +552,7 @@ func TestPRCheckout_detachedHead(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cs, cmdTeardown := run.Stub()
 	defer cmdTeardown(t)
-	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:feature`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.merge`, 0, "refs/heads/feature\n")
 	cs.Register(`git checkout feature`, 0, "")
 
@@ -548,7 +571,7 @@ func TestPRCheckout_differentRepo_currentBranch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cs, cmdTeardown := run.Stub()
 	defer cmdTeardown(t)
-	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head --no-tags`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.merge`, 0, "refs/heads/feature\n")
 	cs.Register(`git merge --ff-only FETCH_HEAD`, 0, "")
 
@@ -585,7 +608,7 @@ func TestPRCheckout_maintainerCanModify(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cs, cmdTeardown := run.Stub()
 	defer cmdTeardown(t)
-	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:feature`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head:feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.merge`, 1, "")
 	cs.Register(`git checkout feature`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git config branch\.feature\.remote https://github\.com/hubot/REPO\.git`, 0, "")
@@ -606,7 +629,7 @@ func TestPRCheckout_recurseSubmodules(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cs, cmdTeardown := run.Stub()
 	defer cmdTeardown(t)
-	cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git show-ref --verify -- refs/heads/feature`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git checkout feature`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git merge --ff-only refs/remotes/origin/feature`, 0, "")
@@ -627,7 +650,7 @@ func TestPRCheckout_force(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cs, cmdTeardown := run.Stub()
 	defer cmdTeardown(t)
-	cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git fetch origin \+refs/heads/feature:refs/remotes/origin/feature --no-tags`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git show-ref --verify -- refs/heads/feature`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git checkout feature`, 0, "")
 	cs.Register(`git reset --hard refs/remotes/origin/feature`, 0, "")
@@ -649,7 +672,7 @@ func TestPRCheckout_detach(t *testing.T) {
 	cs, cmdTeardown := run.Stub()
 	defer cmdTeardown(t)
 	cs.Register(`git checkout --detach FETCH_HEAD`, 0, "")
-	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head`, 0, "")
+	cs.Register(`git fetch origin refs/pull/123/head --no-tags`, 0, "")
 
 	output, err := runCommand(http, nil, "", `123 --detach`, baseRepo)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)