diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index 4e93753e19..356c123e3e 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ static struct refspec s_tag_refspec = {
 	"refs/tags/*"
 };
 
+/* See TAG_REFSPEC for the string version */
 const struct refspec *tag_refspec = &s_tag_refspec;
 
 struct counted_string {
diff --git a/remote.h b/remote.h
index 1f6611be21..80fea6dd11 100644
--- a/remote.h
+++ b/remote.h
@@ -297,4 +297,6 @@ extern int parseopt_push_cas_option(const struct option *, const char *arg, int
 extern int is_empty_cas(const struct push_cas_option *);
 void apply_push_cas(struct push_cas_option *, struct remote *, struct ref *);
 
+#define TAG_REFSPEC "refs/tags/*:refs/tags/*"
+
 #endif