diff --git a/scm.py b/scm.py
index 209e064631..3febbe495d 100644
--- a/scm.py
+++ b/scm.py
@@ -172,7 +172,9 @@ class GIT(object):
     for ref in remotes:
       match = git_svn_re.search(
           GIT.Capture(['cat-file', '-p', ref], cwd)[0])
-      if match:
+      if match and match.group(1) not in svn_refs:
+        # To prefer local refs over remote ones we only set the first occurence.
+        # The assumption being local refs are usually first.
         svn_refs[match.group(1)] = ref
 
     svn_branch = ''