diff --git a/lib/git-subrepo b/lib/git-subrepo
index 8c931b77..82dfb503 100755
--- a/lib/git-subrepo
+++ b/lib/git-subrepo
@@ -211,9 +211,7 @@ command:clone() {
 # `git subrepo init <subdir>` command:
 command:init() {
   command-setup +subdir
-  local default_branch=
-  default_branch=$(git config init.defaultbranch)
-  default_branch=${default_branch:=master}
+  local default_branch=$(git config get --default=master init.defaultbranch)
   local remote=${subrepo_remote:=none}
   local branch=${subrepo_branch:=$default_branch}