diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/tap.rb b/Library/Homebrew/tap.rb
index b0196c0176..e10196c373 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/tap.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/tap.rb
@@ -419,6 +419,7 @@ class Tap
       end
       $stderr.ohai "#{name}: changed remote from #{remote} to #{requested_remote}" unless quiet
     end
+    return unless remote
 
     current_upstream_head = T.must(git_repo.origin_branch_name)
     return if requested_remote.blank? && git_repo.origin_has_branch?(current_upstream_head)