diff --git a/fusesoc/provider/git.py b/fusesoc/provider/git.py
index cbcf3a18..bb1af4b1 100644
--- a/fusesoc/provider/git.py
+++ b/fusesoc/provider/git.py
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ def init_library(library):
 
     @staticmethod
     def update_library(library):
-        git_args = ["-C", library.location, "pull"]
+        download_option = "pull" if not library.sync_version else "fetch"
+        git_args = ["-C", library.location, download_option]
         try:
             Git._checkout_library_version(library)
             Launcher("git", git_args).run()
diff --git a/tests/test_usecases.py b/tests/test_usecases.py
index 52694e3c..f254f809 100644
--- a/tests/test_usecases.py
+++ b/tests/test_usecases.py
@@ -31,6 +31,30 @@ def test_git_library_with_default_branch_is_added_and_updated(caplog):
     assert "Updating..." in caplog.text
 
 
+def test_update_git_library_with_fixed_version(caplog, capsys):
+    """
+    Previously, one could not successfully use `fusesoc library update` on
+    libraries with specific sync versions. This test checks, that no error is
+    reported in that case.
+    """
+    url = "https://github.com/fusesoc/fusesoc-generators"
+    _fusesoc("library", "add", url, "--sync-version", "v0.1.4")
+    assert "Checked out fusesoc-generators at version v0.1.4" in caplog.text
+
+    _fusesoc("library", "list")
+    output = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert "fusesoc-generators" in output
+    assert "v0.1.4" in output
+
+    _fusesoc("library", "update")
+    assert "Failed to update library" not in caplog.text
+
+    _fusesoc("library", "list")
+    output = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert "fusesoc-generators" in output
+    assert "v0.1.4" in output
+
+
 def test_usage_error_leads_to_nonzero_exit_code():
     with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
         _fusesoc("--option_does_not_exist")