diff --git a/Command/InitRemote.hs b/Command/InitRemote.hs
index e2fc4146d8..51ea153731 100644
--- a/Command/InitRemote.hs
+++ b/Command/InitRemote.hs
@@ -33,11 +33,15 @@ start (name:ws) = ifM (isJust <$> findExisting name)
 	( error $ "There is already a special remote named \"" ++ name ++
 		"\". (Use enableremote to enable an existing special remote.)"
 	, do
-		let c = newConfig name
-		t <- findType config
+		ifM (isJust <$> Remote.byNameOnly name)
+			( error $ "There is already a remote named \"" ++ name ++ "\""
+			, do
+				let c = newConfig name
+				t <- findType config
 
-		showStart "initremote" name
-		next $ perform t name $ M.union config c
+				showStart "initremote" name
+				next $ perform t name $ M.union config c
+			)
 	)
   where
 	config = Logs.Remote.keyValToConfig ws
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 911b970493..4fafd331aa 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ git-annex (5.20141014) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
     before it has no effect.
   * Remove hurd stuff from cabal file, since hackage currently rejects
     it.
+  * initremote: Don't allow creating a special remote that has the same
+    name as an existing git remote.
 
  -- Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>  Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:09:24 -0400