diff --git a/git-svn.perl b/git-svn.perl
index 8d2ef3d16f..34884b8fce 100755
--- a/git-svn.perl
+++ b/git-svn.perl
@@ -1820,6 +1820,7 @@ sub read_all_remotes {
 			die("svn-remote.$remote: remote ref '$remote_ref' "
 			    . "must start with 'refs/'\n")
 				unless $remote_ref =~ m{^refs/};
+			$local_ref = uri_decode($local_ref);
 			$r->{$remote}->{fetch}->{$local_ref} = $remote_ref;
 			$r->{$remote}->{svm} = {} if $use_svm_props;
 		} elsif (m!^(.+)\.usesvmprops=\s*(.*)\s*$!) {
@@ -1832,6 +1833,7 @@ sub read_all_remotes {
 			die("svn-remote.$remote: remote ref '$remote_ref' ($t) "
 			    . "must start with 'refs/'\n")
 				unless $remote_ref =~ m{^refs/};
+			$local_ref = uri_decode($local_ref);
 			my $rs = {
 			    t => $t,
 			    remote => $remote,