diff --git a/fips-check.sh b/fips-check.sh
index 8d116c196..d7aa627e4 100755
--- a/fips-check.sh
+++ b/fips-check.sh
@@ -305,9 +305,15 @@ fi
 
 pushd "$TEST_DIR" || exit 2
 
-if ! $GIT clone "$FIPS_REPO" fips; then
+# Start from FIPS 140-2 cert3389
+OLDDATE="Tue Jan 9 13:29:37 2018 -0800"
+if ! $GIT clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout --shallow-since="$OLDDATE" "$FIPS_REPO" fips; then
     echo "fips-check: Couldn't check out FIPS repository."
     exit 1
+else
+    pushd fips || exit 2
+    git checkout || exit 3
+    popd || exit 2
 fi
 
 checkout_files "${WOLFCRYPT_FILES[@]}" || exit 3