diff --git a/guix/http-client.scm b/guix/http-client.scm
index a367c41afa..6c61fd3d8e 100644
--- a/guix/http-client.scm
+++ b/guix/http-client.scm
@@ -100,15 +100,17 @@ (define* (http-fetch uri #:key port (text? #f) (buffered? #t)
 Write information about redirects to LOG-PORT.
 
 Raise an '&http-get-error' condition if downloading fails."
-  (define uri*
+  (define parsed-initial-uri
     (if (string? uri) (string->uri uri) uri))
 
-  (let loop ((uri uri*)
-             (port (or port (open-connection uri*
-                                             #:verify-certificate?
-                                             verify-certificate?
-                                             #:timeout timeout))))
-    (let ((headers (match (uri-userinfo uri)
+  (define (open-connection* uri)
+    (open-connection uri
+                     #:verify-certificate? verify-certificate?
+                     #:timeout timeout))
+
+  (let loop ((current-uri parsed-initial-uri)
+             (current-port (or port (open-connection parsed-initial-uri))))
+    (let ((headers (match (uri-userinfo current-uri)
                      ((? string? str)
                       (cons (cons 'Authorization
                                   (string-append "Basic "
@@ -116,10 +118,10 @@ (define uri*
                                                   (string->utf8 str))))
                             headers))
                      (_ headers))))
-      (unless (or buffered? (not (file-port? port)))
-        (setvbuf port 'none))
+      (unless (or buffered? (not (file-port? current-port)))
+        (setvbuf current-port 'none))
       (let*-values (((resp data)
-                     (http-get uri #:streaming? #t #:port port
+                     (http-get current-uri #:streaming? #t #:port current-port
                                #:keep-alive? keep-alive?
                                #:headers headers))
                     ((code)
@@ -132,36 +134,34 @@ (define uri*
             303                                   ; see other
             307                                   ; temporary redirection
             308)                                  ; permanent redirection
-           (let ((host (uri-host uri))
-                 (uri  (resolve-uri-reference (response-location resp) uri)))
+           (let ((host (uri-host current-uri))
+                 (new-uri (resolve-uri-reference (response-location resp)
+                                                 current-uri)))
              (if keep-alive?
                  (dump-port data (%make-void-port "w0")
                             (response-content-length resp))
-                 (close-port port))
+                 (close-port current-port))
              (format log-port (G_ "following redirection to `~a'...~%")
-                     (uri->string uri))
-             (loop uri
+                     (uri->string new-uri))
+             (loop new-uri
                    (or (and keep-alive?
-                            (or (not (uri-host uri))
-                                (string=? host (uri-host uri)))
-                            port)
-                       (open-connection uri
-                                        #:verify-certificate?
-                                        verify-certificate?
-                                        #:timeout timeout)))))
+                            (or (not (uri-host new-uri))
+                                (string=? host (uri-host new-uri)))
+                            current-port)
+                       (open-connection* new-uri)))))
           (else
            (raise (condition (&http-get-error
-                              (uri uri)
-                              (code code)
-                              (reason (response-reason-phrase resp))
-                              (headers (response-headers resp)))
-                             (&message
-                              (message
-                               (format
-                                #f
-                                (G_ "~a: HTTP download failed: ~a (~s)")
-                                (uri->string uri) code
-                                (response-reason-phrase resp))))))))))))
+                                  (uri current-uri)
+                                  (code code)
+                                  (reason (response-reason-phrase resp))
+                                  (headers (response-headers resp)))
+                                 (&message
+                                  (message
+                                   (format
+                                    #f
+                                    (G_ "~a: HTTP download failed: ~a (~s)")
+                                    (uri->string current-uri) code
+                                    (response-reason-phrase resp))))))))))))
 
 (define-syntax-rule (false-if-networking-error exp)
   "Return #f if EXP triggers a network related exception as can occur when
