diff --git a/lib/ulib/vcs b/lib/ulib/vcs
index 79cbad9..9e7ccd0 100644
--- a/lib/ulib/vcs
+++ b/lib/ulib/vcs
@@ -451,26 +451,42 @@ function git_update() {
         return 1
     }
 
-    git pull "$@" || return
-    if [ -n "$autoff" ]; then
-        local orig_branch restore_branch rbranch
-        local -a branches
-        git_check_cleancheckout || return 0
-        orig_branch="$(git_get_branch)"
-        array_from_lines branches "$(git_list_branches)"
-        for branch in "${branches[@]}"; do
-            remote="$(git_get_branch_remote "$branch")"
-            rbranch="$(git_get_branch_rbranch "$branch" "$remote")"
-            [ -n "$remote" -a -n "$rbranch" ] || continue
+    if [ -z "$autoff" ]; then
+        git pull "$@"
+        return $?
+    fi
+
+    local orig_branch restore_branch remote rbranch pbranch
+    local -a branches
+
+    git fetch -p "$@" || return
+
+    git_check_cleancheckout || return 0
+    orig_branch="$(git_get_branch)"
+    array_from_lines branches "$(git_list_branches)"
+    for branch in "${branches[@]}"; do
+        remote="$(git_get_branch_remote "$branch")"
+        rbranch="$(git_get_branch_rbranch "$branch" "$remote")"
+        pbranch="${rbranch#refs/remotes/}"
+        [ -n "$remote" -a -n "$rbranch" ] || continue
+        if git_is_ancestor "$branch" "$rbranch"; then
             if git_should_ff "$branch" "$rbranch"; then
-                echo "Fast-forwarding $branch..."
+                echo "* Fast-forwarding $branch -> $pbranch"
                 git checkout -q "$branch"
                 git merge -q --ff-only "$rbranch"
                 restore_branch=1
             fi
-        done
-        [ -n "$restore_branch" ] && git checkout -q "$orig_branch"
-    fi
+        else
+            if [ "$branch" == "$orig_branch" ]; then
+                echo "* Cannot fast-forward CURRENT branch $branch from $pbranch
+Try to merge manually with: git merge $pbranch"
+            else
+                echo "* Cannot fast-forward local branch $branch from $pbranch
+You can merge manually with: git checkout $branch; git merge $pbranch"
+            fi
+        fi
+    done
+    [ -n "$restore_branch" ] && git checkout -q "$orig_branch"
     return 0
 }
 function git_push() {