Cloning an empty remote repository using Git GUI fails

git version 2.17.1
git-gui version 0.21.GITGUI

Steps to reproduce:

1) Open `git gui`
2) Select "Clone Existing Repository"
3) Set "Source Location" to an empty remote repository (I am trying
to clone from a gitolite "wild" repo that is created on the fly during
the clone).
4) Clone

Result:

fatal: Couldn't find remote ref HEAD
fatal: The remote end hung up unexpectedly

Expected result:

Successful clone


Previously reported here: https://github.com/msysgit/msysgit/issues/144
 but couldn't find it anywhere in the mailing list.