diff --git a/contrib/remote-helpers/git-remote-hg b/contrib/remote-helpers/git-remote-hg
index bf5e5b473..a9a1e8fa5 100755
--- a/contrib/remote-helpers/git-remote-hg
+++ b/contrib/remote-helpers/git-remote-hg
@@ -439,6 +439,8 @@ def list_head(repo, cur):
         # fake bookmark from current branch
         head = cur
         node = repo['.']
+        if not node:
+            node = repo['tip']
         if not node:
             return
         if head == 'default':