diff --git a/master_changes.md b/master_changes.md
index 2cd003086c9..935996f6c44 100644
--- a/master_changes.md
+++ b/master_changes.md
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ users)
 ## Lint
 
 ## Repository
+  * Accurately tag `curl` download command when loaded from global config file [#6270 @rjbou]
 
 ## Lock
 
diff --git a/src/state/opamStateConfig.ml b/src/state/opamStateConfig.ml
index 5519c0315c0..5b612481ce8 100644
--- a/src/state/opamStateConfig.ml
+++ b/src/state/opamStateConfig.ml
@@ -409,8 +409,9 @@ let load_defaults ?lock_kind root_dir =
   | Some conf ->
     let open OpamStd.Option.Op in
     OpamRepositoryConfig.update
-      ?download_tool:(OpamFile.Config.dl_tool conf >>| function
-        | (CString c,None)::_ as t
+      ?download_tool:(OpamFile.Config.dl_tool conf
+      >>| function
+        | ((CString c| CIdent c), None)::_ as t
           when OpamStd.String.ends_with ~suffix:"curl" c -> lazy (t, `Curl)
         | t -> lazy (t, `Default))
       ~validation_hook:(OpamFile.Config.validation_hook conf)
diff --git a/tests/reftests/swhid.unix.test b/tests/reftests/swhid.unix.test
index c13ca90908b..737711c3e98 100644
--- a/tests/reftests/swhid.unix.test
+++ b/tests/reftests/swhid.unix.test
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ The following actions will be performed:
   - install snappy-ko 2
 
 <><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
-[ERROR] Failed to get sources of snappy-ko.2: Download command failed
+[ERROR] Failed to get sources of snappy-ko.2: curl failed
 
-OpamSolution.Fetch_fail("https://fake.exe/url.tar.gz (Download command failed: \"curl --write-out %{http_code}\\n --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --user-agent opam/current -L -o ${OPAMTMP}/url.tar.gz.part -- https://fake.exe/url.tar.gz\" exited with code 6)")
+OpamSolution.Fetch_fail("https://fake.exe/url.tar.gz (curl failed: \"curl --write-out %{http_code}\\n --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --user-agent opam/current -L -o ${OPAMTMP}/url.tar.gz.part -- https://fake.exe/url.tar.gz\" exited with code 6)")
 
 
 <><> Error report <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ The following actions will be performed:
 
 <><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
 Processing  1/3: [snappy-swhid-dir.2: http]
-[ERROR] Failed to get sources of snappy-swhid-dir.2: Download command failed
+[ERROR] Failed to get sources of snappy-swhid-dir.2: curl failed
 
-OpamSolution.Fetch_fail("https://fake.exe/url.tar.gz (Download command failed: \"curl --write-out %{http_code}\\n --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --user-agent opam/current -L -o ${OPAMTMP}/url.tar.gz.part -- https://fake.exe/url.tar.gz\" exited with code 6)")
+OpamSolution.Fetch_fail("https://fake.exe/url.tar.gz (curl failed: \"curl --write-out %{http_code}\\n --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --user-agent opam/current -L -o ${OPAMTMP}/url.tar.gz.part -- https://fake.exe/url.tar.gz\" exited with code 6)")
 
 
 <><> Error report <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>