diff --git a/scripts/github/merge-pr b/scripts/github/merge-pr
index 871811053c..24d286d13b 100755
--- a/scripts/github/merge-pr
+++ b/scripts/github/merge-pr
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 
-FETCH_PR="git fetch https://github.com/angular/angular.git pull/$PR_NUMBER/head:angular/pr/$PR_NUMBER"
+FETCH_PR="git fetch https://github.com/angular/angular.git pull/$PR_NUMBER/head:angular/pr/$PR_NUMBER -f"
 CHERRY_PICK_PR="git cherry-pick angular/pr/$PR_NUMBER~$PR_SHA_COUNT..angular/pr/$PR_NUMBER"
 REWRITE_MESSAGE="git filter-branch -f --msg-filter \"$BASEDIR/utils/github_closes.js $PR_NUMBER\" HEAD~$PR_SHA_COUNT..HEAD"