diff --git a/cloner/default.go b/cloner/default.go
index d687bf9..97e919d 100644
--- a/cloner/default.go
+++ b/cloner/default.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"os"
+	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/go-git/go-git/v5"
@@ -68,7 +69,8 @@ func (c *cloner) Clone(ctx context.Context, params Params) error {
 	}
 	// clone the repository
 	r, err := git.PlainClone(params.Dir, false, opts)
-	if errors.Is(plumbing.ErrReferenceNotFound, err) && !strings.HasPrefix(params.Ref, "refs/") {
+	if (errors.Is(plumbing.ErrReferenceNotFound, err) || matchRefNotFoundErr(err)) &&
+		!strings.HasPrefix(params.Ref, "refs/") {
 		// If params.Ref is provided without refs/*, then we are assuming it to either refs/heads/ or refs/tags.
 		// Try clone again with inverse ref.
 		if opts.ReferenceName.IsBranch() {
@@ -100,3 +102,12 @@ func (c *cloner) Clone(ctx context.Context, params Params) error {
 		Hash: plumbing.NewHash(params.Sha),
 	})
 }
+
+func matchRefNotFoundErr(err error) bool {
+	if err == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	pattern := `couldn't find remote ref.*`
+	regex := regexp.MustCompile(pattern)
+	return regex.MatchString(err.Error())
+}