diff --git a/bin/xbps-bin/Makefile b/bin/xbps-bin/Makefile
index 3a34d986..2fa3ffad 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-bin/Makefile
+++ b/bin/xbps-bin/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ TOPDIR = ../..
 BIN = xbps-bin
 OBJS =  check.o install.o main.o remove.o show-deps.o
 OBJS += show-info-files.o util.o find-files.o
-OBJS += question.o fetch.o
+OBJS += question.o fetch_cb.o trans_cb.o
 MAN = $(BIN).8
 
 include $(TOPDIR)/prog.mk
diff --git a/bin/xbps-bin/defs.h b/bin/xbps-bin/defs.h
index ff5696f2..a8829df4 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-bin/defs.h
+++ b/bin/xbps-bin/defs.h
@@ -44,8 +44,6 @@ int	update_pkg(const char *);
 int	autoupdate_pkgs(bool, bool);
 int	autoremove_pkgs(bool, bool);
 int	exec_transaction(bool, bool);
-void	transaction_cb(struct xbps_transaction_cb_data *);
-void	transaction_err_cb(struct xbps_transaction_cb_data *);
 
 int	remove_installed_pkgs(int, char **, bool, bool, bool, bool);
 
@@ -68,9 +66,13 @@ int	find_files_in_packages(const char *);
 bool	yesno(const char *, ...);
 bool	noyes(const char *, ...);
 
-/* from fetch.c */
+/* from fetch_cb.c */
 void	fetch_file_progress_cb(struct xbps_fetch_cb_data *);
 
+/* from trans_cb.c */
+void	transaction_cb(struct xbps_transaction_cb_data *);
+void	transaction_err_cb(struct xbps_transaction_cb_data *);
+
 /* From util.c */
 int     show_pkg_files(prop_dictionary_t);
 void    show_pkg_info(prop_dictionary_t);
diff --git a/bin/xbps-bin/fetch.c b/bin/xbps-bin/fetch_cb.c
similarity index 100%
rename from bin/xbps-bin/fetch.c
rename to bin/xbps-bin/fetch_cb.c
diff --git a/bin/xbps-bin/install.c b/bin/xbps-bin/install.c
index c85586ec..149630b0 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-bin/install.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-bin/install.c
@@ -283,87 +283,6 @@ update_pkg(const char *pkgname)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-void
-transaction_cb(struct xbps_transaction_cb_data *xtcd)
-{
-	if (xtcd->desc != NULL && xtcd->pkgver == NULL) {
-		printf("\n%s ...\n", xtcd->desc);
-		return;
-	}
-
-	switch (xtcd->state) {
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_DOWNLOAD:
-		printf("Downloading `%s' (from %s) ...\n",
-		    xtcd->pkgver, xtcd->binpkg_repourl);
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_VERIFY:
-		printf("Checking `%s' integrity ...\n", xtcd->binpkg_fname);
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REMOVE:
-		printf("Removing `%s' ...\n", xtcd->pkgver);
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_PURGE:
-		printf("Purging `%s' ...\n", xtcd->pkgver);
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_CONFIGURE:
-		printf("Configuring `%s' ...\n", xtcd->pkgver);
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REGISTER:
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_INSTALL:
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_UPDATE:
-		printf("Updating `%s' ...\n", xtcd->pkgver);
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_UNPACK:
-		printf("Unpacking `%s' (from ../%s) ...\n",
-		    xtcd->pkgver, xtcd->binpkg_fname);
-		break;
-	default:
-		xbps_dbg_printf("%s: unknown transaction state %d %s\n",
-		    xtcd->pkgver, xtcd->state, xtcd->desc);
-		break;
-	}
-}
-
-void
-transaction_err_cb(struct xbps_transaction_cb_data *xtcd)
-{
-	const char *state_descr = NULL;
-
-	switch (xtcd->state) {
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_DOWNLOAD:
-		state_descr = "failed to download binary package";
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_VERIFY:
-		state_descr = "failed to verify binary package SHA256";
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REMOVE:
-		state_descr = "failed to remove package";
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_PURGE:
-		state_descr = "failed to purge package";
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_CONFIGURE:
-		state_descr = "failed to configure package";
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_UPDATE:
-		state_descr = "failed to update package";
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_UNPACK:
-		state_descr = "failed to unpack binary package";
-		break;
-	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REGISTER:
-		state_descr = "failed to register package";
-		break;
-	default:
-		state_descr = "unknown transaction state";
-		break;
-	}
-
-	xbps_error_printf("%s: %s: %s\n",
-	    xtcd->pkgver, state_descr, strerror(xtcd->err));
-}
-
 int
 exec_transaction(bool yes, bool show_download_urls)
 {
diff --git a/bin/xbps-bin/trans_cb.c b/bin/xbps-bin/trans_cb.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..782c45a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/xbps-bin/trans_cb.c
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+/*-
+ * Copyright (c) 2011 Juan Romero Pardines.
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
+ * OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.
+ * IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
+ * INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
+ * NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
+ * THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#include <string.h>
+#include <xbps_api.h>
+#include "defs.h"
+
+void
+transaction_cb(struct xbps_transaction_cb_data *xtcd)
+{
+	if (xtcd->desc != NULL && xtcd->pkgver == NULL) {
+		printf("\n%s ...\n", xtcd->desc);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	switch (xtcd->state) {
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_DOWNLOAD:
+		printf("Downloading `%s' (from %s) ...\n",
+		    xtcd->pkgver, xtcd->repourl);
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_VERIFY:
+		printf("Checking `%s' integrity ...\n", xtcd->binpkg_fname);
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REMOVE:
+		printf("Removing `%s' ...\n", xtcd->pkgver);
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_PURGE:
+		printf("Purging `%s' ...\n", xtcd->pkgver);
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_CONFIGURE:
+		printf("Configuring `%s' ...\n", xtcd->pkgver);
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REGISTER:
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_INSTALL:
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_UPDATE:
+		printf("Updating `%s' ...\n", xtcd->pkgver);
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_UNPACK:
+		printf("Unpacking `%s' (from ../%s) ...\n",
+		    xtcd->pkgver, xtcd->binpkg_fname);
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REPOSYNC:
+		printf("Syncing repository pkg-index for `%s' ...\n",
+		    xtcd->repourl);
+		break;
+	default:
+		xbps_dbg_printf("%s: unknown transaction state %d %s\n",
+		    xtcd->pkgver, xtcd->state, xtcd->desc);
+		break;
+	}
+}
+
+void
+transaction_err_cb(struct xbps_transaction_cb_data *xtcd)
+{
+	const char *state_descr = NULL;
+
+	switch (xtcd->state) {
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_DOWNLOAD:
+		state_descr = "failed to download binary package";
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_VERIFY:
+		state_descr = "failed to verify binary package SHA256";
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REMOVE:
+		state_descr = "failed to remove package";
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_PURGE:
+		state_descr = "failed to purge package";
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_CONFIGURE:
+		state_descr = "failed to configure package";
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_UPDATE:
+		state_descr = "failed to update package";
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_UNPACK:
+		state_descr = "failed to unpack binary package";
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REGISTER:
+		state_descr = "failed to register package";
+		break;
+	case XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REPOSYNC:
+		xbps_error_printf("Failed to sync pkg-index: %s\n",
+		    xtcd->err);
+		return;
+	default:
+		state_descr = "unknown transaction state";
+		break;
+	}
+
+	xbps_error_printf("%s: %s: %s\n",
+	    xtcd->pkgver, state_descr, strerror(xtcd->err));
+}
diff --git a/bin/xbps-repo/Makefile b/bin/xbps-repo/Makefile
index c0716a27..4ff88a38 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-repo/Makefile
+++ b/bin/xbps-repo/Makefile
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ TOPDIR = ../..
 
 BIN =	xbps-repo
 OBJS =	main.o index.o repository.o find-files.o
-OBJS += ../xbps-bin/fetch.o ../xbps-bin/util.o
+OBJS += ../xbps-bin/fetch_cb.o ../xbps-bin/util.o
+OBJS += ../xbps-bin/trans_cb.o
 MAN = $(BIN).8
 
 include $(TOPDIR)/prog.mk
diff --git a/bin/xbps-repo/defs.h b/bin/xbps-repo/defs.h
index 997da115..41ba9ef9 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-repo/defs.h
+++ b/bin/xbps-repo/defs.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*-
- * Copyright (c) 2009-2010 Juan Romero Pardines.
+ * Copyright (c) 2009-2011 Juan Romero Pardines.
  * All rights reserved.
  *
  * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -30,12 +30,16 @@
 #define __UNCONST(a)    ((void *)(unsigned long)(const void *)(a))
 #endif
 
+#include <xbps_api.h>
+
 /* From index.c */
 int	repo_genindex(const char *);
+
 /* From repository.c */
 int	show_pkg_info_from_repolist(const char *);
 int	show_pkg_deps_from_repolist(const char *);
 int	repository_sync(void);
+
 /* From find-files.c */
 int	repo_find_files_in_packages(const char *);
 
diff --git a/bin/xbps-repo/main.c b/bin/xbps-repo/main.c
index 855a8e31..3a9b0ce3 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-repo/main.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-repo/main.c
@@ -135,6 +135,8 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 	}
 	xhp->debug = debug;
+	xhp->xbps_transaction_cb = transaction_cb;
+	xhp->xbps_transaction_err_cb = transaction_err_cb;
 	xhp->xbps_fetch_cb = fetch_file_progress_cb;
 	xhp->xfcd->cookie = &xfer;
 	xhp->rootdir = rootdir;
diff --git a/bin/xbps-repo/repository.c b/bin/xbps-repo/repository.c
index 7823fdc0..d64fa4a3 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-repo/repository.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-repo/repository.c
@@ -148,12 +148,8 @@ repo_sync_pkg_index_cb(struct repository_pool_index *rpi, void *arg, bool *done)
 	if (!xbps_check_is_repository_uri_remote(rpi->rpi_uri))
 		return 0;
 
-	printf("Synchronizing package index for `%s' ...\n", rpi->rpi_uri);
 	rv = xbps_repository_sync_pkg_index(rpi->rpi_uri);
 	if (rv == -1) {
-		xbps_error_printf("xbps-repo: failed to sync `%s': %s%s\n",
-		    rpi->rpi_uri, strerror(errno), xbps_fetch_error_string() ?
-		    xbps_fetch_error_string() : "");
 		return rv;
 	} else if (rv == 0) {
 		printf("Package index file is already up to date.\n");
diff --git a/bin/xbps-uhelper/Makefile b/bin/xbps-uhelper/Makefile
index f338e9ba..b2e46118 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-uhelper/Makefile
+++ b/bin/xbps-uhelper/Makefile
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@ TOPDIR = ../..
 -include $(TOPDIR)/config.mk
 
 BIN = xbps-uhelper
-OBJS = main.o ../xbps-bin/fetch.o
+OBJS = main.o ../xbps-bin/fetch_cb.o
 
 include $(TOPDIR)/prog.mk
diff --git a/include/xbps_api.h b/include/xbps_api.h
index 0bc2a0c0..a615ea0f 100644
--- a/include/xbps_api.h
+++ b/include/xbps_api.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
  */
 #define XBPS_PKGINDEX_VERSION	"1.2"
 
-#define XBPS_API_VERSION	"20110727"
+#define XBPS_API_VERSION	"20110728"
 #define XBPS_VERSION		"0.10.0"
 
 /**
@@ -168,6 +168,9 @@ void		xbps_warn_printf(const char *, ...);
  * <b>XBPS_TRANS_STATE_CONFIGURE</b>: a package is being configured.
  *
  * <b>XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REGISTER</b>: a package is being registered.
+ *
+ * <b>XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REPOSYNC</b>. a remote repository's
+ * pkg index is being synced.
  */
 typedef enum trans_state {
 	XBPS_TRANS_STATE_UNKNOWN = 0,
@@ -180,7 +183,8 @@ typedef enum trans_state {
 	XBPS_TRANS_STATE_UPDATE,
 	XBPS_TRANS_STATE_UNPACK,
 	XBPS_TRANS_STATE_CONFIGURE,
-	XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REGISTER
+	XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REGISTER,
+	XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REPOSYNC
 } trans_state_t;
 
 /**
@@ -217,9 +221,9 @@ struct xbps_transaction_cb_data {
 	/**
 	 * @var binpkg_repourl
 	 *
-	 * Binary package's repository URL (set internally, read-only).
+	 * Repository URL (set internally, read-only).
 	 */
-	const char *binpkg_repourl;
+	const char *repourl;
 	/**
 	 * @var err
 	 *
diff --git a/lib/package_configure.c b/lib/package_configure.c
index a66da546..bf3620b2 100644
--- a/lib/package_configure.c
+++ b/lib/package_configure.c
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ xbps_configure_pkg(const char *pkgname,
 	if (xhp->xbps_transaction_cb) {
 		xhp->xtcd->desc = NULL;
 		xhp->xtcd->binpkg_fname = NULL;
-		xhp->xtcd->binpkg_repourl = NULL;
+		xhp->xtcd->repourl = NULL;
 		xhp->xtcd->state = XBPS_TRANS_STATE_CONFIGURE;
 		xhp->xtcd->pkgver = pkgver;
 		xhp->xbps_transaction_cb(xhp->xtcd);
diff --git a/lib/repository_pool.c b/lib/repository_pool.c
index 22bd7727..7c67bd0a 100644
--- a/lib/repository_pool.c
+++ b/lib/repository_pool.c
@@ -47,11 +47,27 @@ static SIMPLEQ_HEAD(rpool_head, repository_pool) rpool_queue =
 
 static bool repolist_initialized;
 
-#define FETCH_ERROR(x)	((x == FETCH_UNAVAIL) || \
-			 (x == FETCH_NETWORK) || \
-			 (x == FETCH_ABORT) || \
-			 (x == FETCH_TIMEOUT) || \
-			 (x == FETCH_DOWN))
+#define FETCH_ERROR(x) ((x == FETCH_UNAVAIL) || \
+			(x == FETCH_NETWORK) || \
+			(x == FETCH_ABORT) || \
+			(x == FETCH_TIMEOUT) || \
+			(x == FETCH_DOWN))
+static int
+sync_remote_repo(const char *plist, const char *repourl)
+{
+	/* if file is there, continue */
+	if (access(plist, R_OK) == 0)
+		return 0;
+
+	/* file not found, fetch it */
+	if (xbps_repository_sync_pkg_index(repourl) == -1) {
+		if (FETCH_ERROR(fetchLastErrCode))
+			return -1;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+#undef FETCH_ERROR
 
 int HIDDEN
 xbps_repository_pool_init(void)
@@ -107,42 +123,10 @@ xbps_repository_pool_init(void)
 			rv = errno;
 			goto out;
 		}
-		/*
-		 * For remote repositories, check that its pkg-index.plist
-		 * file is there, otherwise we have to fetch it.
-		 */
-		if (xbps_check_is_repository_uri_remote(repouri)) {
-			if ((access(plist, R_OK) == -1) && errno == ENOENT) {
-				/* file not found, fetch it */
-				xbps_printf("Synchronizing package index for "
-				    "`%s'...\n", repouri);
-				rv = xbps_repository_sync_pkg_index(repouri);
-				if (rv == -1) {
-					const char *fetcherr =
-					    xbps_fetch_error_string();
-
-					xbps_error_printf("failed to sync "
-					    "repository `%s': %s%s\n",
-					   repouri,
-					   errno ? strerror(errno) : "",
-					   fetchLastErrCode ? fetcherr : "");
-
-					/*
-					 * Ignore if the file cannot be
-					 * fetched due to network, missing
-					 * file, moved, etc.
-					 */
-					if (FETCH_ERROR(fetchLastErrCode)) {
-						rv = 0;
-						free(plist);
-						continue;
-					}
-					rv = errno;
-					free(plist);
-					goto out;
-				}
-				rv = 0;
-			}
+		if (sync_remote_repo(plist, repouri) == -1) {
+			nmissing++;
+			free(plist);
+			continue;
 		}
 		ntotal++;
 		/*
diff --git a/lib/repository_sync_index.c b/lib/repository_sync_index.c
index e4064673..5ab36549 100644
--- a/lib/repository_sync_index.c
+++ b/lib/repository_sync_index.c
@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@ xbps_repository_sync_pkg_index(const char *uri)
 	tmp_metafile = rpidx = lrepodir = lrepofile = NULL;
 	xhp = xbps_handle_get();
 
+	/* ignore non remote repositories */
+	if (!xbps_check_is_repository_uri_remote(uri))
+		return 0;
+
 	if (uname(&un) == -1)
 		return -1;
 
@@ -160,15 +164,28 @@ xbps_repository_sync_pkg_index(const char *uri)
 	} else
 		fetch_outputdir = metadir;
 
+	if (xhp->xbps_transaction_cb) {
+		xhp->xtcd->state = XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REPOSYNC;
+		xhp->xtcd->repourl = uri;
+		xhp->xbps_transaction_cb(xhp->xtcd);
+	}
 	/*
 	 * Download pkg-index.plist file from repository.
 	 */
-	rv = xbps_fetch_file(rpidx, fetch_outputdir, true, NULL);
-	if (rv == -1) {
+	if (xbps_fetch_file(rpidx, fetch_outputdir, true, NULL) == -1) {
 		sverrno = errno;
-		xbps_dbg_printf("%s: failed to sync: %s %s\n",
-		    __func__, strerror(errno), xbps_fetch_error_string());
-		(void)remove(tmp_metafile);
+		if (fetchLastErrCode)
+			rv = fetchLastErrCode;
+		else
+			rv = errno;
+
+		if (xhp->xbps_transaction_err_cb) {
+			xhp->xtcd->state = XBPS_TRANS_STATE_REPOSYNC;
+			xhp->xtcd->repourl = uri;
+			xhp->xtcd->err = rv;
+			xhp->xbps_transaction_cb(xhp->xtcd);
+		}
+		rv = -1;
 		errno = sverrno;
 		goto out;
 	}
diff --git a/lib/transaction_commit.c b/lib/transaction_commit.c
index 40da331a..977fe16d 100644
--- a/lib/transaction_commit.c
+++ b/lib/transaction_commit.c
@@ -35,16 +35,16 @@
 
 #include "xbps_api_impl.h"
 
-#define RUN_TRANS_CB(s, d, p, bf, burl)				\
-do {								\
-	if (xhp->xbps_transaction_cb != NULL) {			\
-		xhp->xtcd->state = s;				\
-		xhp->xtcd->desc = d;				\
-		xhp->xtcd->pkgver = p;				\
-		xhp->xtcd->binpkg_fname = bf;			\
-		xhp->xtcd->binpkg_repourl = burl;		\
-		(*xhp->xbps_transaction_cb)(xhp->xtcd);		\
-	}							\
+#define RUN_TRANS_CB(s, d, p, bf, burl) 		\
+do {							\
+	if (xhp->xbps_transaction_cb != NULL) {		\
+		xhp->xtcd->state = s;			\
+		xhp->xtcd->desc = d;			\
+		xhp->xtcd->pkgver = p;			\
+		xhp->xtcd->binpkg_fname = bf;		\
+		xhp->xtcd->repourl = burl;		\
+		(*xhp->xbps_transaction_cb)(xhp->xtcd);	\
+	}						\
 } while (0)
 
 #define RUN_TRANS_ERR_CB(s, p, r)				\