diff --git a/modules/git/repo.go b/modules/git/repo.go
index 579accf92e..046d639c42 100644
--- a/modules/git/repo.go
+++ b/modules/git/repo.go
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ func Clone(ctx context.Context, from, to string, opts CloneRepoOptions) error {
 // PushOptions options when push to remote
 type PushOptions struct {
 	Remote         string
+	LocalBranch string
 	Branch         string
 	Force          bool
 	ForceWithLease string
@@ -207,7 +208,13 @@ func Push(ctx context.Context, repoPath string, opts PushOptions) error {
 	}
 	remoteBranchArgs := []string{opts.Remote}
 	if len(opts.Branch) > 0 {
-		remoteBranchArgs = append(remoteBranchArgs, opts.Branch)
+		var refspec string
+		if opts.LocalBranch != "" {
+			refspec = fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", opts.LocalBranch, opts.Branch)
+		} else {
+			refspec = opts.Branch
+		}
+		remoteBranchArgs = append(remoteBranchArgs, refspec)
 	}
 	cmd.AddDashesAndList(remoteBranchArgs...)
 
diff --git a/services/repository/init.go b/services/repository/init.go
index 8b9081b37e..733528673c 100644
--- a/services/repository/init.go
+++ b/services/repository/init.go
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ func initRepoCommit(ctx context.Context, tmpPath string, repo *repo_model.Reposi
 	}
 
 	if err := gitrepo.PushFromLocal(ctx, tmpPath, repo, git.PushOptions{
+		LocalBranch: "HEAD",
 		Branch: defaultBranch,
 		Env:    repo_module.InternalPushingEnvironment(u, repo),
 	}); err != nil {