diff --git a/zuul/merger/merger.py b/zuul/merger/merger.py
index 3bc29e6..94933de 100644
--- a/zuul/merger/merger.py
+++ b/zuul/merger/merger.py
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@
         repo = self.createRepoObject()
         self.log.debug("Updating repository %s" % self.local_path)
         origin = repo.remotes.origin
-        origin.update()
+        origin.fetch(tags=True)
 
 
 class Merger(object):