diff --git a/dvc/dependency/repo.py b/dvc/dependency/repo.py
index df35e4523..a038c780d 100644
--- a/dvc/dependency/repo.py
+++ b/dvc/dependency/repo.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 import copy
 import os
+import filecmp
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from dvc.utils.compat import FileNotFoundError
 
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ from dvc.external_repo import external_repo
 from dvc.utils.compat import str
 from dvc.exceptions import OutputNotFoundError
 from dvc.exceptions import PathMissingError
+from dvc.exceptions import NoOutputInExternalRepoError
 from dvc.utils.fs import fs_copy
 
 
@@ -47,17 +49,31 @@ class DependencyREPO(DependencyLOCAL):
         with external_repo(**merge(self.def_repo, overrides)) as repo:
             yield repo
 
+    def _git_status(self):
+        with self._make_repo() as old_repo:
+            with self._make_repo(rev_lock=None) as new_repo:
+                old_path = os.path.join(old_repo.root_dir, self.def_path)
+                new_path = os.path.join(new_repo.root_dir, self.def_path)
+                file_unchanged = filecmp.cmp(old_path, new_path, shallow=False)
+                if file_unchanged:
+                    return {}
+                else:
+                    return {str(self): "update available"}
+
     def status(self):
-        with self._make_repo() as repo:
-            current = repo.find_out_by_relpath(self.def_path).info
+        try:
+            with self._make_repo() as repo:
+                current = repo.find_out_by_relpath(self.def_path).info
 
-        with self._make_repo(rev_lock=None) as repo:
-            updated = repo.find_out_by_relpath(self.def_path).info
+            with self._make_repo(rev_lock=None) as repo:
+                updated = repo.find_out_by_relpath(self.def_path).info
 
-        if current != updated:
-            return {str(self): "update available"}
+            if current != updated:
+                return {str(self): "update available"}
 
-        return {}
+            return {}
+        except NoOutputInExternalRepoError:
+            return self._git_status()
 
     def save(self):
         pass