diff --git a/magithub-core.el b/magithub-core.el
index b07c2d9..dbc7852 100644
--- a/magithub-core.el
+++ b/magithub-core.el
@@ -504,7 +504,8 @@ of the form `owner/name' (as in `vermiculus/magithub')."
                   (ghubp-get-repos-owner-repo ',sparse-repo))
                  (and (not (magithub--api-available-p))
                       sparse-repo)))
-          (when (magithub-online-p)
+          (when (and (not magithub-cache--refresh)
+                     (magithub-online-p))
             (let ((magithub-cache--refresh t))
               (magithub-repo sparse-repo)))
           sparse-repo))))