diff --git a/optional/fetchmail/fetchmail.py b/optional/fetchmail/fetchmail.py
index 35b2ee22..a298cf53 100755
--- a/optional/fetchmail/fetchmail.py
+++ b/optional/fetchmail/fetchmail.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def run(debug):
                 username=escape_rc_string(fetch["username"]),
                 password=escape_rc_string(fetch["password"]),
                 options=options,
-                folders=folders,
+                folders='' if fetch['protocol'] == 'pop3' else folders,
                 lmtp='' if fetch['scan'] else 'lmtp',
             )
             if debug:
diff --git a/towncrier/newsfragments/2928.bugfix b/towncrier/newsfragments/2928.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..23bf644b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/towncrier/newsfragments/2928.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+fix fetchmail when used with POP3: disregard "folders"