diff --git a/connect.c b/connect.c
index 5047402a1a..661af292db 100644
--- a/connect.c
+++ b/connect.c
@@ -673,10 +673,20 @@ struct child_process *git_connect(int fd[2], const char *url,
 		printf("Diag: path=%s\n", path ? path : "NULL");
 		conn = NULL;
 	} else if (protocol == PROTO_GIT) {
+		/*
+		 * Set up virtual host information based on where we will
+		 * connect, unless the user has overridden us in
+		 * the environment.
+		 */
+		char *target_host = getenv("GIT_OVERRIDE_VIRTUAL_HOST");
+		if (target_host)
+			target_host = xstrdup(target_host);
+		else
+			target_host = xstrdup(hostandport);
+
 		/* These underlying connection commands die() if they
 		 * cannot connect.
 		 */
-		char *target_host = xstrdup(hostandport);
 		if (git_use_proxy(hostandport))
 			conn = git_proxy_connect(fd, hostandport);
 		else