diff --git a/builtin-remote.c b/builtin-remote.c
index a5019397ff..c4945b8708 100644
--- a/builtin-remote.c
+++ b/builtin-remote.c
@@ -1238,13 +1238,11 @@ static int update(int argc, const char **argv)
 		fetch_argv[fetch_argc++] = "--prune";
 	if (verbose)
 		fetch_argv[fetch_argc++] = "-v";
-	if (argc < 2) {
+	fetch_argv[fetch_argc++] = "--multiple";
+	if (argc < 2)
 		fetch_argv[fetch_argc++] = "default";
-	} else {
-		fetch_argv[fetch_argc++] = "--multiple";
-		for (i = 1; i < argc; i++)
-			fetch_argv[fetch_argc++] = argv[i];
-	}
+	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++)
+		fetch_argv[fetch_argc++] = argv[i];
 
 	if (strcmp(fetch_argv[fetch_argc-1], "default") == 0) {
 		git_config(get_remote_default, &default_defined);
diff --git a/t/t5505-remote.sh b/t/t5505-remote.sh
index fd166d9de3..936fe0a1a6 100755
--- a/t/t5505-remote.sh
+++ b/t/t5505-remote.sh
@@ -419,6 +419,20 @@ test_expect_success 'update default (overridden, with funny whitespace)' '
 
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'update (with remotes.default defined)' '
+
+	(cd one &&
+	 for b in $(git branch -r)
+	 do
+		git branch -r -d $b || break
+	 done &&
+	 git config remotes.default "drosophila" &&
+	 git remote update &&
+	 git branch -r > output &&
+	 test_cmp expect output)
+
+'
+
 test_expect_success '"remote show" does not show symbolic refs' '
 
 	git clone one three &&