diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb b/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb
index 589147c316..40e2314a2b 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb
@@ -688,7 +688,8 @@ class CVSDownloadStrategy < VCSDownloadStrategy
 
   def clone_repo
     HOMEBREW_CACHE.cd do
-      quiet_safe_system cvspath, { :quiet_flag => "-Q" }, "-d", @url, "login"
+      # Login is only needed (and allowed) with pserver; skip for anoncvs.
+      quiet_safe_system cvspath, { :quiet_flag => "-Q" }, "-d", @url, "login" if @url.include? "pserver"
       quiet_safe_system cvspath, { :quiet_flag => "-Q" }, "-d", @url, "checkout", "-d", cache_filename, @module
     end
   end