diff --git a/repo b/repo
index ebd12c60..5e619ae5 100755
--- a/repo
+++ b/repo
@@ -196,6 +196,9 @@ group.add_option('-p', '--platform',
                  help='restrict manifest projects to ones with a specified '
                       'platform group [auto|all|none|linux|darwin|...]',
                  metavar='PLATFORM')
+group.add_option('--no-clone-bundle',
+                 dest='no_clone_bundle', action='store_true',
+                 help='disable use of /clone.bundle on HTTP/HTTPS')
 
 
 # Tool
@@ -339,7 +342,7 @@ def _Init(args, gitc_init=False):
       can_verify = True
 
     dst = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(repodir, S_repo))
-    _Clone(url, dst, opt.quiet)
+    _Clone(url, dst, opt.quiet, not opt.no_clone_bundle)
 
     if can_verify and not opt.no_repo_verify:
       rev = _Verify(dst, branch, opt.quiet)
@@ -577,7 +580,7 @@ def _ImportBundle(local):
     os.remove(path)
 
 
-def _Clone(url, local, quiet):
+def _Clone(url, local, quiet, clone_bundle):
   """Clones a git repository to a new subdirectory of repodir
   """
   try:
@@ -607,7 +610,7 @@ def _Clone(url, local, quiet):
   _SetConfig(local,
              'remote.origin.fetch',
              '+refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/origin/*')
-  if _DownloadBundle(url, local, quiet):
+  if clone_bundle and _DownloadBundle(url, local, quiet):
     _ImportBundle(local)
   _Fetch(url, local, 'origin', quiet)
 
diff --git a/subcmds/init.py b/subcmds/init.py
index 77153eda..45d69b79 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 --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
+may be necessary if there are problems with the local Python
+HTTP client or proxy configuration, but the Git binary works.
 
 Switching Manifest Branches
 ---------------------------
@@ -113,6 +118,9 @@ to update the working directory files.
                  help='restrict manifest projects to ones with a specified '
                       'platform group [auto|all|none|linux|darwin|...]',
                  metavar='PLATFORM')
+    g.add_option('--no-clone-bundle',
+                 dest='no_clone_bundle', action='store_true',
+                 help='disable use of /clone.bundle on HTTP/HTTPS')
 
     # Tool
     g = p.add_option_group('repo Version options')
@@ -222,7 +230,8 @@ to update the working directory files.
               'in another location.', file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(1)
 
-    if not m.Sync_NetworkHalf(is_new=is_new, quiet=opt.quiet):
+    if not m.Sync_NetworkHalf(is_new=is_new, quiet=opt.quiet,
+        clone_bundle=not opt.no_clone_bundle):
       r = m.GetRemote(m.remote.name)
       print('fatal: cannot obtain manifest %s' % r.url, file=sys.stderr)