diff --git a/borg/archiver.py b/borg/archiver.py
index 3c921e962..bfd56bf0b 100644
--- a/borg/archiver.py
+++ b/borg/archiver.py
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ def with_repository(fake=False, create=False, lock=True, exclusive=False, manife
             if argument(args, fake):
                 return method(self, args, repository=None, **kwargs)
             elif location.proto == 'ssh':
-                repository = RemoteRepository(location, create=create, lock_wait=self.lock_wait, lock=lock,
-                                              append_only=append_only, args=args)
+                repository = RemoteRepository(location, create=create, exclusive=argument(args, exclusive),
+                                              lock_wait=self.lock_wait, lock=lock, append_only=append_only, args=args)
             else:
                 repository = Repository(location.path, create=create, exclusive=argument(args, exclusive),
                                         lock_wait=self.lock_wait, lock=lock,
diff --git a/borg/remote.py b/borg/remote.py
index daaa021cf..8d1bf95ea 100644
--- a/borg/remote.py
+++ b/borg/remote.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ class RepositoryServer:  # pragma: no cover
     def negotiate(self, versions):
         return RPC_PROTOCOL_VERSION
 
-    def open(self, path, create=False, lock_wait=None, lock=True, append_only=False):
+    def open(self, path, create=False, lock_wait=None, lock=True, exclusive=False, append_only=False):
         path = os.fsdecode(path)
         if path.startswith('/~'):
             path = path[1:]
@@ -125,7 +125,9 @@ class RepositoryServer:  # pragma: no cover
                     break
             else:
                 raise PathNotAllowed(path)
-        self.repository = Repository(path, create, lock_wait=lock_wait, lock=lock, append_only=self.append_only or append_only)
+        self.repository = Repository(path, create, lock_wait=lock_wait, lock=lock,
+                                     append_only=self.append_only or append_only,
+                                     exclusive=exclusive)
         self.repository.__enter__()  # clean exit handled by serve() method
         return self.repository.id
 
@@ -141,7 +143,7 @@ class RemoteRepository:
     class NoAppendOnlyOnServer(Error):
         """Server does not support --append-only."""
 
-    def __init__(self, location, create=False, lock_wait=None, lock=True, append_only=False, args=None):
+    def __init__(self, location, create=False, exclusive=False, lock_wait=None, lock=True, append_only=False, args=None):
         self.location = self._location = location
         self.preload_ids = []
         self.msgid = 0
@@ -178,16 +180,13 @@ class RemoteRepository:
                 raise ConnectionClosedWithHint('Is borg working on the server?') from None
             if version != RPC_PROTOCOL_VERSION:
                 raise Exception('Server insisted on using unsupported protocol version %d' % version)
-            # Because of protocol versions, only send append_only if necessary
-            if append_only:
-                try:
-                    self.id = self.call('open', self.location.path, create, lock_wait, lock, append_only)
-                except self.RPCError as err:
-                    if err.remote_type == 'TypeError':
-                        raise self.NoAppendOnlyOnServer() from err
-                    else:
-                        raise
-            else:
+            try:
+                self.id = self.call('open', self.location.path, create, lock_wait, lock, exclusive, append_only)
+            except self.RPCError as err:
+                if err.remote_type != 'TypeError':
+                    raise
+                if append_only:
+                    raise self.NoAppendOnlyOnServer()
                 self.id = self.call('open', self.location.path, create, lock_wait, lock)
         except Exception:
             self.close()
diff --git a/borg/testsuite/repository.py b/borg/testsuite/repository.py
index a012f514a..bc08e097f 100644
--- a/borg/testsuite/repository.py
+++ b/borg/testsuite/repository.py
@@ -386,7 +386,8 @@ class RepositoryCheckTestCase(RepositoryTestCaseBase):
 class RemoteRepositoryTestCase(RepositoryTestCase):
 
     def open(self, create=False):
-        return RemoteRepository(Location('__testsuite__:' + os.path.join(self.tmppath, 'repository')), create=create)
+        return RemoteRepository(Location('__testsuite__:' + os.path.join(self.tmppath, 'repository')),
+                                exclusive=True, create=create)
 
     def test_invalid_rpc(self):
         self.assert_raises(InvalidRPCMethod, lambda: self.repository.call('__init__', None))
@@ -415,7 +416,8 @@ class RemoteRepositoryTestCase(RepositoryTestCase):
 class RemoteRepositoryCheckTestCase(RepositoryCheckTestCase):
 
     def open(self, create=False):
-        return RemoteRepository(Location('__testsuite__:' + os.path.join(self.tmppath, 'repository')), create=create)
+        return RemoteRepository(Location('__testsuite__:' + os.path.join(self.tmppath, 'repository')),
+                                exclusive=True, create=create)
 
     def test_crash_before_compact(self):
         # skip this test, we can't mock-patch a Repository class in another process!