diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el
index 438af781393..3800d8fa56d 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el
@@ -2095,7 +2095,7 @@ package-archive-base
   "Return the package described by DESC."
   (cdr (assoc (package-desc-archive desc) package-archives)))
 
-(defun package-install-from-archive (pkg-desc)
+(defun package-install-from-archive-1 (pkg-desc)
   "Download and install a package defined by PKG-DESC."
   ;; This won't happen, unless the archive is doing something wrong.
   (when (eq (package-desc-kind pkg-desc) 'dir)
@@ -2141,6 +2141,15 @@ package-install-from-archive
                                                  package-alist))))
                  (setf (package-desc-signed (car pkg-descs)) t))))))))))
 
+(defun package-install-from-archive (pkg-desc)
+  "Download and install PKG-DESC, refreshing the archive if necessary."
+  (condition-case msg
+      (package-install-from-archive-1 pkg-desc)
+    (error
+     (when (string-match-p "\\`Error retrieving: " (cadr msg))
+       (package-refresh-contents)
+       (package-install-from-archive-1 pkg-desc)))))
+
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun package-installed-p (package &optional min-version)
   "Return non-nil if PACKAGE, of MIN-VERSION or newer, is installed.