diff --git a/builtin/clone.c b/builtin/clone.c
index bbd169ceb4..1dfd21da8d 100644
--- a/builtin/clone.c
+++ b/builtin/clone.c
@@ -947,7 +947,9 @@ int cmd_clone(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			}
 
 		if (!is_local && !complete_refs_before_fetch)
-			transport_fetch_refs(transport, mapped_refs);
+			if (transport_fetch_refs(transport, mapped_refs))
+				die(_("could not fetch refs from %s"),
+				    transport->url);
 
 		remote_head = find_ref_by_name(refs, "HEAD");
 		remote_head_points_at =
diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index f2bdde134c..67b360db15 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -441,6 +441,19 @@ static int get_exporter(struct transport *transport,
 	return start_command(fastexport);
 }
 
+static void check_helper_status(struct helper_data *data)
+{
+	int pid, status;
+
+	pid = waitpid(data->helper->pid, &status, WNOHANG);
+	if (pid < 0)
+		die("Could not retrieve status of remote helper '%s'",
+		    data->name);
+	if (pid > 0 && WIFEXITED(status))
+		die("Remote helper '%s' died with %d",
+		    data->name, WEXITSTATUS(status));
+}
+
 static int fetch_with_import(struct transport *transport,
 			     int nr_heads, struct ref **to_fetch)
 {
@@ -476,6 +489,7 @@ static int fetch_with_import(struct transport *transport,
 
 	if (finish_command(&fastimport))
 		die("Error while running fast-import");
+	check_helper_status(data);
 
 	/*
 	 * The fast-import stream of a remote helper that advertises
@@ -915,6 +929,7 @@ static int push_refs_with_export(struct transport *transport,
 
 	if (finish_command(&exporter))
 		die("Error while running fast-export");
+	check_helper_status(data);
 	if (push_update_refs_status(data, remote_refs, flags))
 		return 1;