diff --git a/pkg/recipe/recipe.go b/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
index 8c08cbdd..01e09955 100644
--- a/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
+++ b/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
@@ -615,11 +615,15 @@ func EnsureUpToDate(recipeName string) error {
 func GetDefaultBranch(repo *git.Repository, recipeName string) (plumbing.ReferenceName, error) {
 	recipeDir := path.Join(config.RECIPES_DIR, recipeName)
 
+	meta, _ := GetRecipeMeta(recipeName)
+	if meta.DefaultBranch != "" {
+		return plumbing.ReferenceName(fmt.Sprintf("refs/heads/%s", meta.DefaultBranch)), nil
+	}
+
 	branch := "master"
 	if _, err := repo.Branch("master"); err != nil {
 		if _, err := repo.Branch("main"); err != nil {
-			logrus.Debugf("failed to select branch in %s", recipeDir)
-			return "", err
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to select default branch in %s", recipeDir)
 		}
 		branch = "main"
 	}