diff --git a/plugins/git/internal-functions b/plugins/git/internal-functions
index 4c787a5fd..bd5089834 100755
--- a/plugins/git/internal-functions
+++ b/plugins/git/internal-functions
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ fn-git-fetch() {
   fi
 
   DOKKU_DEPLOY_BRANCH="$(fn-git-deploy-branch "$APP")"
-  if ! git check-ref-format --branch "$DOKKU_DEPLOY_BRANCH" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  if ! git -C  "$APP_ROOT" check-ref-format --branch "$DOKKU_DEPLOY_BRANCH"; then
     echo $'\e[1G\e[K'"-----> WARNING: Invalid branch name '$DOKKU_DEPLOY_BRANCH' specified via DOKKU_DEPLOY_BRANCH."
     echo $'\e[1G\e[K'"-----> For more details, please see the man page for 'git-check-ref-format.'"
     return