diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index 52554b319b..a1256c00e1 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 #include "refs.h"
 
 static int debug;
+/* TODO: put somewhere sensible, e.g. git_transport_options? */
+static int auto_gc = 1;
 
 struct helper_data {
 	const char *name;
@@ -559,6 +561,12 @@ static int fetch_with_import(struct transport *transport,
 		}
 	}
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
+	if (auto_gc) {
+		const char *argv_gc_auto[] = {
+			"gc", "--auto", "--quiet", NULL,
+		};
+		run_command_v_opt(argv_gc_auto, RUN_GIT_CMD);
+	}
 	return 0;
 }