diff --git a/hbs2-git/git-hbs2/GitRemoteMain.hs b/hbs2-git/git-hbs2/GitRemoteMain.hs
index fe0d3269..418df693 100644
--- a/hbs2-git/git-hbs2/GitRemoteMain.hs
+++ b/hbs2-git/git-hbs2/GitRemoteMain.hs
@@ -107,18 +107,6 @@ loop args = do
     warn "trying to init reference --- may be it's ours"
     liftIO $ runApp WithLog (runExport Nothing ref)
 
-  refs <- withDB db stateGetActualRefs
-
-  let heads = [ h | h@GitHash{} <- universeBi refs ]
-
-  missed <- try (mapM (gitReadObject Nothing) heads) <&> either (\(_::SomeException) -> True) (const False)
-
-  let force = missed || List.null heads
-
-  debug $ "THIS MIGHT BE CLONE!" <+> pretty force
-
-  -- sync state first
-  traceTime "TIMING: importRefLogNew" $ importRefLogNew force ref
 
   refsNew <- withDB db stateGetActualRefs
   let possibleHead = listToMaybe $ List.take 1 $ List.sortOn guessHead (fmap fst refsNew)
@@ -190,6 +178,18 @@ loop args = do
 
       other -> die $ show other
 
+  refs <- withDB db stateGetActualRefs
+
+  let heads = [ h | h@GitHash{} <- universeBi refs ]
+
+  missed <- try (mapM (gitReadObject Nothing) heads) <&> either (\(_::SomeException) -> True) (const False)
+
+  let force = missed || List.null heads
+
+  when force do
+  -- sync state first
+    traceTime "TIMING: importRefLogNew" $ importRefLogNew True ref
+
     shutUp
 
   where
diff --git a/hbs2-git/lib/HBS2Git/State.hs b/hbs2-git/lib/HBS2Git/State.hs
index c3cf75ea..e0332ffb 100644
--- a/hbs2-git/lib/HBS2Git/State.hs
+++ b/hbs2-git/lib/HBS2Git/State.hs
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ import Control.Concurrent.STM
 import Data.Graph (graphFromEdges, topSort)
 import Lens.Micro.Platform
 
+import System.IO (stderr)
+
 -- FIXME: move-orphans-to-separate-module
 
 instance ToField Cookie where
@@ -267,7 +269,7 @@ readOrCreateCookie = do
     liftIO $ Text.writeFile cfn (fromCookie cookie)
     pure cookie
   else do
-    let cookie = Cookie (fromString cf)
+    let cookie@(Cookie co) = Cookie (fromString cf)
     statePutCookie cookie
     pure cookie
 
@@ -421,6 +423,7 @@ statePutTranImported :: MonadIO m => HashRef -> DB m ()
 statePutTranImported h = do
   conn <- stateConnection
   cookie <- asks (view dbCookie)
+  debug $ "statePutTranImported" <+> pretty h <+> viaShow cookie
   liftIO $ execute conn [qc|
   insert into tranimported (hash, cookie) values(?, ?)
   on conflict (hash, cookie) do nothing