diff --git a/builtin/fetch.c b/builtin/fetch.c
index b4c6d921d0..6fb50320eb 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch.c
@@ -906,8 +906,17 @@ static int store_updated_refs(const char *raw_url, const char *remote_name,
 		url = xstrdup("foreign");
 
 	if (!connectivity_checked) {
+		struct check_connected_options opt = CHECK_CONNECTED_INIT;
+
+		if (filter_options.choice)
+			/*
+			 * Since a filter is specified, objects indirectly
+			 * referenced by refs are allowed to be absent.
+			 */
+			opt.check_refs_are_promisor_objects_only = 1;
+
 		rm = ref_map;
-		if (check_connected(iterate_ref_map, &rm, NULL)) {
+		if (check_connected(iterate_ref_map, &rm, &opt)) {
 			rc = error(_("%s did not send all necessary objects\n"), url);
 			goto abort;
 		}