diff --git a/src/plugins/git/branchmodel.cpp b/src/plugins/git/branchmodel.cpp
index fa9dee2cb37..14a59f0993b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/git/branchmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/git/branchmodel.cpp
@@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ void BranchModel::updateUpstreamStatus(BranchNode *node)
     process->setEnvironment(gitClient().processEnvironment());
     QStringList parameters = {"rev-list", "--no-color", "--count"};
     if (node->tracking.isEmpty())
-        parameters += {"HEAD", "--not", "--remotes"};
+        parameters += {node->fullRef(), "--not", "--remotes"};
     else
         parameters += {"--left-right", node->fullRef() + "..." + node->tracking};
     process->setCommand({gitClient().vcsBinary(), parameters});