obj_req->state = COMPLETE;
 
        /* Use alternates if necessary */
-       if (obj_req->http_code == 404) {
+       if (obj_req->http_code == 404 ||
+           obj_req->curl_result == CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE) {
                fetch_alternates(alt->base);
                if (obj_req->repo->next != NULL) {
                        obj_req->repo =
                        }
                }
        } else if (slot->curl_result != CURLE_OK) {
-               if (slot->http_code != 404) {
+               if (slot->http_code != 404 &&
+                   slot->curl_result != CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE) {
                        got_alternates = -1;
                        return;
                }
        if (start_active_slot(slot)) {
                run_active_slot(slot);
                if (slot->curl_result != CURLE_OK) {
-                       free(buffer.buffer);
-                       return error("%s", curl_errorstr);
+                       if (slot->http_code == 404 ||
+                           slot->curl_result == CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE) {
+                               repo->got_indices = 1;
+                               free(buffer.buffer);
+                               return 0;
+                       } else {
+                               repo->got_indices = 0;
+                               free(buffer.buffer);
+                               return error("%s", curl_errorstr);
+                       }
                }
        } else {
+               repo->got_indices = 0;
                free(buffer.buffer);
                return error("Unable to start request");
        }
                switch (data[i]) {
                case 'P':
                        i++;
-                       if (i + 52 < buffer.posn &&
+                       if (i + 52 <= buffer.posn &&
                            !strncmp(data + i, " pack-", 6) &&
                            !strncmp(data + i + 46, ".pack\n", 6)) {
                                get_sha1_hex(data + i + 6, sha1);
                                break;
                        }
                default:
-                       while (data[i] != '\n')
+                       while (i < buffer.posn && data[i] != '\n')
                                i++;
                }
                i++;
                ret = error("Request for %s aborted", hex);
        } else if (obj_req->curl_result != CURLE_OK &&
                   obj_req->http_code != 416) {
-               if (obj_req->http_code == 404)
+               if (obj_req->http_code == 404 ||
+                   obj_req->curl_result == CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE)
                        ret = -1; /* Be silent, it is probably in a pack. */
                else
                        ret = error("%s (curl_result = %d, http_code = %ld, sha1 = %s)",
        int arg = 1;
        int rc = 0;
 
+       setup_git_directory();
+
        while (arg < argc && argv[arg][0] == '-') {
                if (argv[arg][1] == 't') {
                        get_tree = 1;