diff --git a/remote/remote.go b/remote/remote.go
index 6af15ab80..929d8c3a2 100644
--- a/remote/remote.go
+++ b/remote/remote.go
@@ -154,3 +154,18 @@ func Refresh(c context.Context, u *model.User) (bool, error) {
 	}
 	return refresher.Refresh(u)
 }
+
+// FileBackoff fetches the file using an exponential backoff.
+// TODO replace this with a proper backoff
+func FileBackoff(remote Remote, u *model.User, r *model.Repo, b *model.Build, f string) (out []byte, err error) {
+	for i := 0; i < 5; i++ {
+		select {
+		case <-time.After(time.Second * time.Duration(i)):
+			out, err = remote.File(u, r, b, f)
+			if err == nil {
+				return
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return
+}
diff --git a/server/hook.go b/server/hook.go
index ba81fc4c9..67757466e 100644
--- a/server/hook.go
+++ b/server/hook.go
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ func PostHook(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 
 	// fetch the build file from the database
-	confb, err := remote_.File(user, repo, build, repo.Config)
+	confb, err := remote.FileBackoff(remote_, user, repo, build, repo.Config)
 	if err != nil {
 		logrus.Errorf("error: %s: cannot find %s in %s: %s", repo.FullName, repo.Config, build.Ref, err)
 		c.AbortWithError(404, err)