diff --git a/builtin/remote.c b/builtin/remote.c
index 542f56e387..64b4b551eb 100644
--- a/builtin/remote.c
+++ b/builtin/remote.c
@@ -1356,7 +1356,7 @@ static int set_head(int argc, const char **argv)
 			result |= error(_("Not a valid ref: %s"), buf2.buf);
 		else if (create_symref(buf.buf, buf2.buf, "remote set-head"))
 			result |= error(_("Could not setup %s"), buf.buf);
-		if (opt_a)
+		else if (opt_a)
 			printf("%s/HEAD set to %s\n", argv[0], head_name);
 		free(head_name);
 	}