diff --git a/dvc/external_repo.py b/dvc/external_repo.py
index 026c5bb13..3f55f128a 100644
--- a/dvc/external_repo.py
+++ b/dvc/external_repo.py
@@ -68,9 +68,8 @@ def _external_repo(url=None, rev=None, cache_dir=None):
         _git_checkout(new_path, rev)
 
     repo = Repo(new_path)
-    original_repo = None
     try:
-        # check if the URL is local and no default remote
+        # check if the URL is local and no default remote is present
         # add default remote pointing to the original repo's cache location
         if os.path.isdir(url):
             rconfig = RemoteConfig(repo.config)
@@ -81,8 +80,6 @@ def _external_repo(url=None, rev=None, cache_dir=None):
                     default=True,
                     level=Config.LEVEL_LOCAL,
                 )
-                repo.scm.add([repo.config.config_file])
-                repo.scm.commit("add remote")
 
         if cache_dir is not None:
             cache_config = CacheConfig(repo.config)
@@ -90,8 +87,6 @@ def _external_repo(url=None, rev=None, cache_dir=None):
     finally:
         # Need to close/reopen repo to force config reread
         repo.close()
-        if original_repo:
-            original_repo.close()
 
     REPO_CACHE[key] = new_path
     return new_path