diff --git a/build.go b/build.go
index ccb32a5..579d738 100644
--- a/build.go
+++ b/build.go
@@ -48,14 +48,17 @@ func (f *Forge) doBuild(repo *gitpb.Repo, userFlags []string, goWhat string) err
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// build the protobuf files in all protobuf repos
-	all := repo.GoDeps.SortByGoPath()
-	for all.Scan() {
-		t := all.Next()
-		found := f.Repos.FindByGoPath(t.GetGoPath())
-		if found.RepoType() == "protobuf" {
-			if err := f.runAutogenpb(found); err != nil {
-				return err
+	// if not GoPrimitive, autogen each dependent git repo
+	if repo.GoDepsLen() != 0 {
+		// build the protobuf files in all protobuf repos
+		all := repo.GoDeps.SortByGoPath()
+		for all.Scan() {
+			t := all.Next()
+			found := f.Repos.FindByGoPath(t.GetGoPath())
+			if found.RepoType() == "protobuf" {
+				if err := f.runAutogenpb(found); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -66,6 +69,11 @@ func (f *Forge) doBuild(repo *gitpb.Repo, userFlags []string, goWhat string) err
 	if repo.CheckDirty() {
 		version = version + "-dirty"
 	}
+	if repo.RepoType() == "plugin" {
+		if goWhat == "install" {
+			return errors.New("Can not go install plugins yet")
+		}
+	}
 	cmd := []string{"go", goWhat}
 
 	// if this is a plugin, use buildmode=plugin
@@ -118,7 +126,7 @@ func (f *Forge) doBuild(repo *gitpb.Repo, userFlags []string, goWhat string) err
 			log.Info("again failed cmd", strings.Join(cmd, "a"))
 			log.Info("again failed", strings.Join(res2.Stdout, "\n"))
 		}
-		return errors.New("go build failed: " + fmt.Sprint(result.Error))
+		return errors.New("go " + goWhat + " failed: " + fmt.Sprint(result.Error))
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/repoClone.go b/repoClone.go
index 7a51be1..ab1acee 100644
--- a/repoClone.go
+++ b/repoClone.go
@@ -154,6 +154,9 @@ func cloneActual(newdir, basedir, giturl string) (string, error) {
 	gitdir := filepath.Join(fullpath, ".git")
 	if IsDirectory(gitdir) {
 		log.Info("git cloned worked to", fullpath)
+		// also clone notes -- this can store the go.mod and go.sum files
+		cmd := []string{"git", "fetch", "origin", "refs/notes/*:refs/notes/*"}
+		shell.PathRunRealtime(fullpath, cmd)
 		return giturl, nil
 	}
 	// git clone didn't really work but did make a directory