diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 6db8648..033b83c 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -221,6 +221,11 @@ To work around API limitation, you must first generate a
 Changes
 =======
 
+3.0.1 (2022-09-21)
+------------------
+
+* Fix git clone issue with git < 2.17
+
 3.0.0 (2022-09-20)
 ------------------
 
diff --git a/git_aggregator/repo.py b/git_aggregator/repo.py
index 27ed24f..151a24a 100644
--- a/git_aggregator/repo.py
+++ b/git_aggregator/repo.py
@@ -221,7 +221,13 @@ def init_repository(self, target_dir):
             repository,
             target_dir,
         )
-        cmd = ('git', 'clone', '--filter=blob:none')
+        cmd = ('git', 'clone')
+        if self.git_version >= (2, 17):
+            # Git added support for partial clone in 2.17
+            # https://git-scm.com/docs/partial-clone
+            # Speeds up cloning by functioning without a complete copy of
+            # repository
+            cmd += ('--filter=blob:none',)
         # Try to clone target branch, if it exists
         rtype, _sha = self.query_remote_ref(repository, branch)
         if rtype in {'branch', 'tag'}: