diff --git a/src/plugins/git/branchmodel.cpp b/src/plugins/git/branchmodel.cpp
index bc44cb23914..fa9dee2cb37 100644
--- a/src/plugins/git/branchmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/git/branchmodel.cpp
@@ -757,7 +757,7 @@ std::optional<QString> BranchModel::remoteName(const QModelIndex &idx) const
     if (!node)
         return std::nullopt;
     if (node == remotesNode)
-        return {};
+        return QString(); // keep QString() as {} might convert to std::nullopt
     if (node->parent == remotesNode)
         return node->name;
     return std::nullopt;