diff --git a/hgext/remotenames.py b/hgext/remotenames.py
--- a/hgext/remotenames.py
+++ b/hgext/remotenames.py
@@ -249,6 +249,10 @@
     extensions.wrapfunction(bookmarks, '_printbookmarks', wrapprintbookmarks)
 
 def reposetup(ui, repo):
+
+    # set the config option to store remotenames
+    repo.ui.setconfig('experimental', 'remotenames', True, 'remotenames-ext')
+
     if not repo.local():
         return
 
diff --git a/tests/test-logexchange.t b/tests/test-logexchange.t
--- a/tests/test-logexchange.t
+++ b/tests/test-logexchange.t
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@
   > ssh = $PYTHON "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > [alias]
   > glog = log -G -T '{rev}:{node|short}  {desc}'
-  > [experimental]
-  > remotenames = True
   > [extensions]
   > remotenames =
   > show =