diff --git a/lib/git-subrepo b/lib/git-subrepo
index a6d5d96a..85d64570 100755
--- a/lib/git-subrepo
+++ b/lib/git-subrepo
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ Options:
 h           Show the command summary
 help        Help overview
 version     Print the git-subrepo version number
- 
+
 a,all       Perform command on all current subrepos
 A,ALL       Perform command on all subrepos and subsubrepos
 b,branch=   Specify the upstream branch to push/pull/fetch
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ file=       Specify a commit message file
 r,remote=   Specify the upstream remote to push/pull/fetch
 s,squash    Squash commits on push
 u,update    Add the --branch and/or --remote overrides to .gitrepo
- 
+
 q,quiet     Show minimal output
 v,verbose   Show verbose output
 d,debug     Show the actual commands used
@@ -788,8 +788,8 @@ subrepo:branch() {
       [[ $prev_commit ]] && first_parent=(-p "$prev_commit")
       second_parent=()
       if [[ -z $first_gitrepo_commit ]]; then
-        first_gitrepo_commit=$gitrepo_commit
-        second_parent=(-p "$gitrepo_commit")
+        first_gitrepo_commit=$subrepo_commit
+        second_parent=(-p "$subrepo_commit")
       fi
 
       if [[ $join_method != rebase ]]; then