diff --git a/project.py b/project.py
index d551351b..a7001b01 100755
--- a/project.py
+++ b/project.py
@@ -1310,6 +1310,16 @@ class Project(object):
                               submodules=submodules)):
       return False
 
+    mp = self.manifest.manifestProject
+    dissociate = mp.config.GetBoolean('repo.dissociate')
+    if dissociate:
+      alternates_file = os.path.join(self.gitdir, 'objects/info/alternates')
+      if os.path.exists(alternates_file):
+        cmd = ['repack', '-a', '-d']
+        if GitCommand(self, cmd, bare=True).Wait() != 0:
+          return False
+        platform_utils.remove(alternates_file)
+
     if self.worktree:
       self._InitMRef()
     else:
diff --git a/repo b/repo
index 6d3e8c2f..998731c6 100755
--- a/repo
+++ b/repo
@@ -190,6 +190,9 @@ group.add_option('--mirror',
 group.add_option('--reference',
                  dest='reference',
                  help='location of mirror directory', metavar='DIR')
+group.add_option('--dissociate',
+                 dest='dissociate', action='store_true',
+                 help='dissociate from reference mirrors after clone')
 group.add_option('--depth', type='int', default=None,
                  dest='depth',
                  help='create a shallow clone with given depth; see git clone')
diff --git a/subcmds/init.py b/subcmds/init.py
index 4e51dfe8..6e99658f 100644
--- a/subcmds/init.py
+++ b/subcmds/init.py
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ directory use as much data as possible from the local reference
 directory when fetching from the server. This will make the sync
 go a lot faster by reducing data traffic on the network.
 
+The --dissociate option can be used to borrow the objects from
+the directory specified with the --reference option only to reduce
+network transfer, and stop borrowing from them after a first clone
+is made by making necessary local copies of borrowed objects.
+
 The --no-clone-bundle option disables any attempt to use
 $URL/clone.bundle to bootstrap a new Git repository from a
 resumeable bundle file on a content delivery network. This
@@ -103,6 +108,9 @@ to update the working directory files.
     g.add_option('--reference',
                  dest='reference',
                  help='location of mirror directory', metavar='DIR')
+    g.add_option('--dissociate',
+                 dest='dissociate', action='store_true',
+                 help='dissociate from reference mirrors after clone')
     g.add_option('--depth', type='int', default=None,
                  dest='depth',
                  help='create a shallow clone with given depth; see git clone')
@@ -219,6 +227,9 @@ to update the working directory files.
     if opt.reference:
       m.config.SetString('repo.reference', opt.reference)
 
+    if opt.dissociate:
+      m.config.SetString('repo.dissociate', 'true')
+
     if opt.archive:
       if is_new:
         m.config.SetString('repo.archive', 'true')