diff --git a/sickbeard/versionChecker.py b/sickbeard/versionChecker.py
index 1a2bdad17d58ff815af988350c3c1b8a549f225b..efc3ce5e7a8043b0ef09a97bf92eef8e0fb6f86e 100644
--- a/sickbeard/versionChecker.py
+++ b/sickbeard/versionChecker.py
@@ -286,7 +286,14 @@ class GitUpdateManager(UpdateManager):
 
     def _find_git_branch(self):
 
-        return self._run_git('symbolic-ref -q HEAD')[0].strip().replace('refs/heads/', '', 1) or 'master'
+        branch_info = self._run_git('symbolic-ref -q HEAD')
+
+        if not branch_info:
+            return 'master'
+
+        branch = branch_info[0].strip().replace('refs/heads/', '', 1)
+
+        return branch or 'master'
 
 
     def _check_github_for_update(self):