diff --git a/core/cli/packages.el b/core/cli/packages.el
index 0190d2639..4d5f64a0d 100644
--- a/core/cli/packages.el
+++ b/core/cli/packages.el
@@ -186,9 +186,12 @@ declaration) or dependency thereof that hasn't already been."
                      (print! (info "\033[K(%d/%d) %s is up-to-date...%s") i total package esc)
                      (cl-return))
 
-                    ((straight-vc-commit-present-p recipe target-ref)
-                     (print! (start "\033[K(%d/%d) Checking out %s (%s)...%s")
-                             i total package (doom--abbrev-commit target-ref) esc)
+                    ((if (straight-vc-commit-present-p recipe target-ref)
+                         (print! (start "\033[K(%d/%d) Checking out %s (%s)...%s")
+                                 i total package (doom--abbrev-commit target-ref) esc)
+                       (print! (start "\033[K(%d/%d) Fetching %s...%s") i total package esc)
+                       (and (straight-vc-fetch-from-remote recipe)
+                            (straight-vc-commit-present-p recipe target-ref)))
                      (straight-vc-check-out-commit recipe target-ref)
                      (or (not (eq type 'git))
                          (setq output (doom--commit-log-between ref target-ref)))