diff --git a/Documentation/git-fetch.txt b/Documentation/git-fetch.txt
index 45b6d8e633..9067c2079e 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-fetch.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-fetch.txt
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ include::fetch-options.txt[]
 
 include::pull-fetch-param.txt[]
 
+--stdin::
+	Read refspecs, one per line, from stdin in addition to those provided
+	as arguments. The "tag <name>" format is not supported.
+
 include::urls-remotes.txt[]
 
 
diff --git a/builtin/fetch.c b/builtin/fetch.c
index 2eb8d6a5a5..9fca92b509 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch.c
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ static struct list_objects_filter_options filter_options;
 static struct string_list server_options = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 static struct string_list negotiation_tip = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
 static int fetch_write_commit_graph = -1;
+static int stdin_refspecs = 0;
 
 static int git_fetch_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 {
@@ -205,6 +206,8 @@ static struct option builtin_fetch_options[] = {
 		 N_("check for forced-updates on all updated branches")),
 	OPT_BOOL(0, "write-commit-graph", &fetch_write_commit_graph,
 		 N_("write the commit-graph after fetching")),
+	OPT_BOOL(0, "stdin", &stdin_refspecs,
+		 N_("accept refspecs from stdin")),
 	OPT_END()
 };
 
@@ -1680,7 +1683,8 @@ static inline void fetch_one_setup_partial(struct remote *remote)
 	return;
 }
 
-static int fetch_one(struct remote *remote, int argc, const char **argv, int prune_tags_ok)
+static int fetch_one(struct remote *remote, int argc, const char **argv,
+		     int prune_tags_ok, int use_stdin_refspecs)
 {
 	struct refspec rs = REFSPEC_INIT_FETCH;
 	int i;
@@ -1737,6 +1741,13 @@ static int fetch_one(struct remote *remote, int argc, const char **argv, int pru
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (use_stdin_refspecs) {
+		struct strbuf line = STRBUF_INIT;
+		while (strbuf_getline_lf(&line, stdin) != EOF)
+			refspec_append(&rs, line.buf);
+		strbuf_release(&line);
+	}
+
 	if (server_options.nr)
 		gtransport->server_options = &server_options;
 
@@ -1837,7 +1848,7 @@ int cmd_fetch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (remote) {
 		if (filter_options.choice || has_promisor_remote())
 			fetch_one_setup_partial(remote);
-		result = fetch_one(remote, argc, argv, prune_tags_ok);
+		result = fetch_one(remote, argc, argv, prune_tags_ok, stdin_refspecs);
 	} else {
 		int max_children = max_jobs;
 
@@ -1845,6 +1856,10 @@ int cmd_fetch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			die(_("--filter can only be used with the remote "
 			      "configured in extensions.partialclone"));
 
+		if (stdin_refspecs)
+			die(_("--stdin can only be used when fetching "
+			      "from one remote"));
+
 		if (max_children < 0)
 			max_children = fetch_parallel_config;