diff --git a/features/clone.feature b/features/clone.feature
index 73627b44930979ac95f89dfa4d0750b1a655460a..5c45aa48f283dc33bd00849d353a4a29a57d43ad 100644
--- a/features/clone.feature
+++ b/features/clone.feature
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ Feature: hub clone
     Then it should clone "git://github.com/hookio/hook.js.git"
     And there should be no output
 
+  Scenario: Clone a public repo that starts with a period
+    When I successfully run `hub clone zhuangya/.vim`
+    Then it should clone "git://github.com/zhuangya/.vim.git"
+    And there should be no output
+
   Scenario: Clone a public repo with HTTPS
     Given HTTPS is preferred
     When I successfully run `hub clone rtomayko/ronn`
@@ -89,3 +94,4 @@ Feature: hub clone
     When I successfully run `hub clone dotfiles`
     Then the git command should be unchanged
     And there should be no output
+
diff --git a/lib/hub/commands.rb b/lib/hub/commands.rb
index b612be91b7d7be6f8bdbd6b3da82376c10fca399..f26c8d47c1b2dba68ecfc58e251c5a508671ace3 100644
--- a/lib/hub/commands.rb
+++ b/lib/hub/commands.rb
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ module Hub
     # provides git interrogation methods
     extend Context
 
-    NAME_RE = /\w[\w.-]*/
+    NAME_RE = /[\w.][\w.-]*/
     OWNER_RE = /[a-zA-Z0-9-]+/
     NAME_WITH_OWNER_RE = /^(?:#{NAME_RE}|#{OWNER_RE}\/#{NAME_RE})$/