diff --git a/doc/emacs/maintaining.texi b/doc/emacs/maintaining.texi
index 6ceda6d7a5..6857e67def 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/maintaining.texi
+++ b/doc/emacs/maintaining.texi
@@ -1041,13 +1041,14 @@ VC Change Log
 (@code{vc-log-incoming}) command displays a log buffer showing the
 changes that will be applied, the next time you run the version
 control system's pull command to get new revisions from another
-repository (@pxref{Pulling / Pushing}).  This other repository is the default
+remote location (@pxref{Pulling / Pushing}).  This other remote location is the default
 one from which changes are pulled, as defined by the version control
 system; with a prefix argument, @code{vc-log-incoming} prompts for a
-specific repository.  Similarly, @kbd{C-x v O}
+specific remote location.  Similarly, @kbd{C-x v O}
 (@code{vc-log-outgoing}) shows the changes that will be sent to
-another repository, the next time you run the push command; with a
-prefix argument, it prompts for a specific destination repository.
+another remote location, the next time you run the push command; with a
+prefix argument, it prompts for a specific destination that
+in case of some version control system can be a branch name.
 
 @cindex VC log buffer, commands in
 @cindex vc-log buffer
diff --git a/lisp/vc/vc.el b/lisp/vc/vc.el
index a45e0e0c52..e039095255 100644
--- a/lisp/vc/vc.el
+++ b/lisp/vc/vc.el
@@ -2772,7 +2772,8 @@ vc-print-branch-log
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun vc-log-incoming (&optional remote-location)
   "Show log of changes that will be received with pull from REMOTE-LOCATION.
-When called interactively with a prefix argument, prompt for REMOTE-LOCATION."
+When called interactively with a prefix argument, prompt for REMOTE-LOCATION.
+In some version control systems REMOTE-LOCATION can be a remote branch name."
   (interactive
    (when current-prefix-arg
      (list (read-string "Remote location (empty for default): "))))
@@ -2785,7 +2786,8 @@ vc-log-incoming
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun vc-log-outgoing (&optional remote-location)
   "Show log of changes that will be sent with a push operation to REMOTE-LOCATION.
-When called interactively with a prefix argument, prompt for REMOTE-LOCATION."
+When called interactively with a prefix argument, prompt for REMOTE-LOCATION.
+In some version control systems REMOTE-LOCATION can be a remote branch name."
   (interactive
    (when current-prefix-arg
      (list (read-string "Remote location (empty for default): "))))
diff --git a/lisp/vc/vc-git.el b/lisp/vc/vc-git.el
index 2228cf8665..70505d0fbf 100644
--- a/lisp/vc/vc-git.el
+++ b/lisp/vc/vc-git.el
@@ -1291,7 +1308,12 @@ vc-git-log-outgoing
 
 (defun vc-git-log-incoming (buffer remote-location)
   (vc-setup-buffer buffer)
-  (vc-git-command nil 0 nil "fetch")
+  (vc-git-command nil 0 nil "fetch"
+                  (unless (string= remote-location "")
+                    ;; `remote-location' is in format "repository/branch",
+                    ;; so remove everything except a repository name.
+                    (replace-regexp-in-string
+                     "/.*" "" remote-location)))
   (vc-git-command
    buffer 'async nil
    "log"