diff --git a/src/Composer/Repository/Vcs/GitLabDriver.php b/src/Composer/Repository/Vcs/GitLabDriver.php
index 1de093a2c..2878f3f74 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Repository/Vcs/GitLabDriver.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Repository/Vcs/GitLabDriver.php
@@ -445,9 +445,8 @@ class GitLabDriver extends VcsDriver
 
                     if (!$moreThanGuestAccess) {
                         $this->io->writeError('<warning>GitLab token with Guest only access detected</warning>');
-                        $this->setupGitDriver($this->generateSshUrl());
 
-                        return $res;
+                        return $this->attemptCloneFallback(); 
                     }
                 }