diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb b/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb
index e57c2fc80c..767a26d159 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb
@@ -198,12 +198,16 @@ class SubversionDownloadStrategy <AbstractDownloadStrategy
     end
   end
 
+  def _fetch_command svncommand, url, target
+    [svn, svncommand, '--force', url, target]
+  end
+
   def fetch_repo target, url, revision=nil, ignore_externals=false
     # Use "svn up" when the repository already exists locally.
     # This saves on bandwidth and will have a similar effect to verifying the
     # cache as it will make any changes to get the right revision.
     svncommand = target.exist? ? 'up' : 'checkout'
-    args = [svn, svncommand, '--force', url, target]
+    args = _fetch_command svncommand, url, target
     args << '-r' << revision if revision
     args << '--ignore-externals' if ignore_externals
     quiet_safe_system *args