diff --git a/fdroidserver/common.py b/fdroidserver/common.py
index 938b1c15..87a9d279 100644
--- a/fdroidserver/common.py
+++ b/fdroidserver/common.py
@@ -1007,6 +1007,11 @@ class vcs_gitsvn(vcs):
             if not remote.startswith('https://'):
                 raise VCSException(_('HTTPS must be used with Subversion URLs!'))
 
+            # git-svn sucks at certificate validation, this throws useful errors:
+            import requests
+            r = requests.head(remote)
+            r.raise_for_status()
+
             gitsvn_args.extend(['--', remote, self.local])
             p = self.git(gitsvn_args)
             if p.returncode != 0: