diff --git a/dvc/external_repo.py b/dvc/external_repo.py
index 9aca3c2f9..fe5792f13 100644
--- a/dvc/external_repo.py
+++ b/dvc/external_repo.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def _external_repo(url=None, rev=None, cache_dir=None):
         # add default remote pointing to the original repo's cache location
         if os.path.isdir(url):
             rconfig = RemoteConfig(repo.config)
-            if not rconfig.remote_remote_set():
+            if not rconfig.default_remote_set():
                 original_repo = Repo(url)
                 try:
                     rconfig.add(
diff --git a/dvc/remote/config.py b/dvc/remote/config.py
index b4d12baaa..53735f5c1 100644
--- a/dvc/remote/config.py
+++ b/dvc/remote/config.py
@@ -156,14 +156,14 @@ class RemoteConfig(object):
             Config.SECTION_CORE, Config.SECTION_CORE_REMOTE, level=level
         )
 
-    def remote_remote_set(self):
+    def default_remote_set(self):
         """
         Checks if default remote config is present.
         Args:
             rconfig: a remote config
 
         Returns:
-            True if the remote config exists, else False
+            True if the remote config is set, else False
         """
         try:
             self.get_default()