diff --git a/eobuilder-ctl b/eobuilder-ctl
index e6cb665..9cfced8 100755
--- a/eobuilder-ctl
+++ b/eobuilder-ctl
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ def setup_git_tree(project_reference, options):
             shutil.rmtree(git_project_path)
     if os.path.exists(git_project_path):
         existing_tree = True
-        branch_name = get_git_branch_name(project_reference)
+        branch_name = options.branch or get_git_branch_name(project_reference)
         try:
             subprocess.check_call(['git', 'checkout', '--quiet', branch_name],
                     cwd=git_project_path)
@@ -463,6 +463,9 @@ def setup_git_tree(project_reference, options):
             else:
                 project_url = project_reference
             call("git clone %s" % project_url)
+        if options.branch:
+            subprocess.check_call(['git', 'checkout', '--quiet', branch_name],
+                    cwd=git_project_path)
         branch_name = get_git_branch_name(project_reference)
 
     if not options.branch: