diff --git a/lib/bb/tests/fetch.py b/lib/bb/tests/fetch.py
index 532adb941..f71d0d10c 100644
--- a/lib/bb/tests/fetch.py
+++ b/lib/bb/tests/fetch.py
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ class FetcherTest(unittest.TestCase):
         return bb.process.run(cmd, cwd=cwd)[0]
 
     def git_init(self, cwd=None):
-        self.git('init', cwd=cwd)
+        self.git(['init', '--initial-branch=master'], cwd=cwd)
         if not self.git(['config', 'user.email'], cwd=cwd):
             self.git(['config', 'user.email', 'you@example.com'], cwd=cwd)
         if not self.git(['config', 'user.name'], cwd=cwd):