diff --git a/roles/distgit/files/mkbranch b/roles/distgit/files/mkbranch
index 1230571fec..9873202119 100644
--- a/roles/distgit/files/mkbranch
+++ b/roles/distgit/files/mkbranch
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ for NAME in $PACKAGES ; do
     #}
     [ $VERBOSE -gt 0 ] && echo "Creating $NAME $BRANCH from $NAME ..."
     $(pushd $GITROOT/$NAME.git >/dev/null && \
-    git branch --no-track $BRANCH `git rev-list --max-parents=0 master` && \
+    git branch --no-track $BRANCH `git rev-list --max-parents=0 master | head -1` && \
     popd >/dev/null) || {
     echo "ERROR: Branch $NAME $BRANCH could not be created" >&2
         popd >/dev/null