diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/presubmit/api.py b/recipes/recipe_modules/presubmit/api.py
index e7a9440eda..5a8629e909 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/presubmit/api.py
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/presubmit/api.py
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ class PresubmitApi(recipe_api.RecipeApi):
     """
     # Expect callers to have already set up their gclient configuration.
 
-    bot_update_step = self.m.bot_update.ensure_checkout(timeout=3600)
+    bot_update_step = self.m.bot_update.ensure_checkout(
+        timeout=3600, no_fetch_tags=True)
     relative_root = self.m.gclient.get_gerrit_patch_root().rstrip('/')
 
     abs_root = self.m.context.cwd.join(relative_root)