diff --git a/src/ViewModels/Preferences.cs b/src/ViewModels/Preferences.cs
index 4803ec429..da7558508 100644
--- a/src/ViewModels/Preferences.cs
+++ b/src/ViewModels/Preferences.cs
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ public bool EnableAutoFetch
         {
             get;
             set;
-        } = false;
+        } = true;
 
         public int AutoFetchInterval
         {
diff --git a/src/ViewModels/Repository.cs b/src/ViewModels/Repository.cs
index 732f06481..5f588c7d5 100644
--- a/src/ViewModels/Repository.cs
+++ b/src/ViewModels/Repository.cs
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ public void Open()
             _workingCopy = new WorkingCopy(this) { CommitMessage = _uiStates.LastCommitMessage };
             _stashesPage = new StashesPage(this);
             _selectedViewIndex = Preferences.Instance.ShowLocalChangesByDefault ? 1 : 0;
-            _lastFetchTime = DateTime.Now;
+            _lastFetchTime = DateTime.Now.AddMinutes(-Preferences.Instance.AutoFetchInterval).AddSeconds(60); // first auto-fetch 60s after open, then every interval
             _autoFetchTimer = new Timer(AutoFetchByTimer, null, 5000, 5000);
             RefreshAll();
         }