diff --git a/models/repo.go b/models/repo.go
index dd50db9a0..74b5a021f 100644
--- a/models/repo.go
+++ b/models/repo.go
@@ -929,6 +929,7 @@ type CreateRepoOptions struct {
 	IssueLabels    string
 	License        string
 	Readme         string
+	DefaultBranch  string
 	IsPrivate      bool
 	IsMirror       bool
 	AutoInit       bool
diff --git a/modules/auth/repo_form.go b/modules/auth/repo_form.go
index 63a560728..84ab35f64 100644
--- a/modules/auth/repo_form.go
+++ b/modules/auth/repo_form.go
@@ -27,15 +27,16 @@ import (
 
 // CreateRepoForm form for creating repository
 type CreateRepoForm struct {
-	UID         int64  `binding:"Required"`
-	RepoName    string `binding:"Required;AlphaDashDot;MaxSize(100)"`
-	Private     bool
-	Description string `binding:"MaxSize(255)"`
-	AutoInit    bool
-	Gitignores  string
-	IssueLabels string
-	License     string
-	Readme      string
+	UID           int64  `binding:"Required"`
+	RepoName      string `binding:"Required;AlphaDashDot;MaxSize(100)"`
+	Private       bool
+	Description   string `binding:"MaxSize(255)"`
+	DefaultBranch string `binding:"GitRefName;MaxSize(100)"`
+	AutoInit      bool
+	Gitignores    string
+	IssueLabels   string
+	License       string
+	Readme        string
 
 	RepoTemplate int64
 	GitContent   bool
diff --git a/modules/repository/generate.go b/modules/repository/generate.go
index 52502e8eb..6d80488de 100644
--- a/modules/repository/generate.go
+++ b/modules/repository/generate.go
@@ -113,7 +113,8 @@ func generateRepoCommit(repo, templateRepo, generateRepo *models.Repository, tmp
 	// Clone to temporary path and do the init commit.
 	templateRepoPath := templateRepo.RepoPath()
 	if err := git.Clone(templateRepoPath, tmpDir, git.CloneRepoOptions{
-		Depth: 1,
+		Depth:  1,
+		Branch: templateRepo.DefaultBranch,
 	}); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("git clone: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ func generateRepoCommit(repo, templateRepo, generateRepo *models.Repository, tmp
 		return fmt.Errorf("git remote add: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	return initRepoCommit(tmpDir, repo, repo.Owner)
+	return initRepoCommit(tmpDir, repo, repo.Owner, templateRepo.DefaultBranch)
 }
 
 func generateGitContent(ctx models.DBContext, repo, templateRepo, generateRepo *models.Repository) (err error) {
@@ -204,7 +205,7 @@ func generateGitContent(ctx models.DBContext, repo, templateRepo, generateRepo *
 		return fmt.Errorf("getRepositoryByID: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	repo.DefaultBranch = "master"
+	repo.DefaultBranch = templateRepo.DefaultBranch
 	if err = models.UpdateRepositoryCtx(ctx, repo, false); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("updateRepository: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/modules/repository/init.go b/modules/repository/init.go
index 7b7d07f43..320fba53f 100644
--- a/modules/repository/init.go
+++ b/modules/repository/init.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func prepareRepoCommit(ctx models.DBContext, repo *models.Repository, tmpDir, re
 }
 
 // initRepoCommit temporarily changes with work directory.
-func initRepoCommit(tmpPath string, repo *models.Repository, u *models.User) (err error) {
+func initRepoCommit(tmpPath string, repo *models.Repository, u *models.User, defaultBranch string) (err error) {
 	commitTimeStr := time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339)
 
 	sig := u.NewGitSig()
@@ -145,7 +145,11 @@ func initRepoCommit(tmpPath string, repo *models.Repository, u *models.User) (er
 		return fmt.Errorf("git commit: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	if stdout, err := git.NewCommand("push", "origin", "master").
+	if len(defaultBranch) == 0 {
+		defaultBranch = "master"
+	}
+
+	if stdout, err := git.NewCommand("push", "origin", "master:"+defaultBranch).
 		SetDescription(fmt.Sprintf("initRepoCommit (git push): %s", tmpPath)).
 		RunInDirWithEnv(tmpPath, models.InternalPushingEnvironment(u, repo)); err != nil {
 		log.Error("Failed to push back to master: Stdout: %s\nError: %v", stdout, err)
@@ -190,7 +194,7 @@ func initRepository(ctx models.DBContext, repoPath string, u *models.User, repo
 		}
 
 		// Apply changes and commit.
-		if err = initRepoCommit(tmpDir, repo, u); err != nil {
+		if err = initRepoCommit(tmpDir, repo, u, opts.DefaultBranch); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("initRepoCommit: %v", err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -206,6 +210,10 @@ func initRepository(ctx models.DBContext, repoPath string, u *models.User, repo
 	}
 
 	repo.DefaultBranch = "master"
+	if len(opts.DefaultBranch) > 0 {
+		repo.DefaultBranch = opts.DefaultBranch
+	}
+
 	if err = models.UpdateRepositoryCtx(ctx, repo, false); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("updateRepository: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/modules/structs/repo.go b/modules/structs/repo.go
index 04cc594f2..cabb5e12f 100644
--- a/modules/structs/repo.go
+++ b/modules/structs/repo.go
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ type CreateRepoOption struct {
 	License string `json:"license"`
 	// Readme of the repository to create
 	Readme string `json:"readme"`
+	// DefaultBranch of the repository (used when initializes and in template)
+	DefaultBranch string `json:"default_branch" binding:"GitRefName;MaxSize(100)"`
 }
 
 // EditRepoOption options when editing a repository's properties
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/repo.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/repo.go
index 047d8168b..5eeef9fb9 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/repo.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/repo.go
@@ -218,14 +218,15 @@ func CreateUserRepo(ctx *context.APIContext, owner *models.User, opt api.CreateR
 		opt.Readme = "Default"
 	}
 	repo, err := repo_service.CreateRepository(ctx.User, owner, models.CreateRepoOptions{
-		Name:        opt.Name,
-		Description: opt.Description,
-		IssueLabels: opt.IssueLabels,
-		Gitignores:  opt.Gitignores,
-		License:     opt.License,
-		Readme:      opt.Readme,
-		IsPrivate:   opt.Private,
-		AutoInit:    opt.AutoInit,
+		Name:          opt.Name,
+		Description:   opt.Description,
+		IssueLabels:   opt.IssueLabels,
+		Gitignores:    opt.Gitignores,
+		License:       opt.License,
+		Readme:        opt.Readme,
+		IsPrivate:     opt.Private,
+		AutoInit:      opt.AutoInit,
+		DefaultBranch: opt.DefaultBranch,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		if models.IsErrRepoAlreadyExist(err) {
diff --git a/routers/repo/repo.go b/routers/repo/repo.go
index 5177add99..3f135dd21 100644
--- a/routers/repo/repo.go
+++ b/routers/repo/repo.go
@@ -221,14 +221,15 @@ func CreatePost(ctx *context.Context, form auth.CreateRepoForm) {
 		}
 	} else {
 		repo, err = repo_service.CreateRepository(ctx.User, ctxUser, models.CreateRepoOptions{
-			Name:        form.RepoName,
-			Description: form.Description,
-			Gitignores:  form.Gitignores,
-			IssueLabels: form.IssueLabels,
-			License:     form.License,
-			Readme:      form.Readme,
-			IsPrivate:   form.Private || setting.Repository.ForcePrivate,
-			AutoInit:    form.AutoInit,
+			Name:          form.RepoName,
+			Description:   form.Description,
+			Gitignores:    form.Gitignores,
+			IssueLabels:   form.IssueLabels,
+			License:       form.License,
+			Readme:        form.Readme,
+			IsPrivate:     form.Private || setting.Repository.ForcePrivate,
+			DefaultBranch: form.DefaultBranch,
+			AutoInit:      form.AutoInit,
 		})
 		if err == nil {
 			log.Trace("Repository created [%d]: %s/%s", repo.ID, ctxUser.Name, repo.Name)
diff --git a/templates/repo/create.tmpl b/templates/repo/create.tmpl
index b63af09ce..bd97f9de1 100644
--- a/templates/repo/create.tmpl
+++ b/templates/repo/create.tmpl
@@ -162,6 +162,10 @@
 								<label>{{.i18n.Tr "repo.auto_init"}}</label>
 							</div>
 						</div>
+						<div class="inline field">
+							<label for="default_branch">{{.i18n.Tr "repo.default_branch"}}</label>
+							<input id="default_branch" name="default_branch" value="{{.default_branch}}" placeholder="master">
+						</div>
 					</div>
 
 					<br/>
diff --git a/templates/repo/empty.tmpl b/templates/repo/empty.tmpl
index d6965d6fb..8efb6d286 100644
--- a/templates/repo/empty.tmpl
+++ b/templates/repo/empty.tmpl
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ git init
 git add README.md
 git commit -m "first commit"
 git remote add origin <span class="clone-url">{{if $.DisableSSH}}{{$.CloneLink.HTTPS}}{{else}}{{$.CloneLink.SSH}}{{end}}</span>
-git push -u origin master</code></pre>
+git push -u origin {{if ne .Repository.DefaultBranch "master"}}master:{{.Repository.DefaultBranch}}{{else}}master{{end}}</code></pre>
 								</div>
 							</div>
 							<div class="ui divider"></div>
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ git push -u origin master</code></pre>
 								<h3>{{.i18n.Tr "repo.push_exist_repo"}}</h3>
 								<div class="markdown">
 									<pre><code>git remote add origin <span class="clone-url">{{if $.DisableSSH}}{{$.CloneLink.HTTPS}}{{else}}{{$.CloneLink.SSH}}{{end}}</span>
-git push -u origin master</code></pre>
+git push -u origin {{.Repository.DefaultBranch}}</code></pre>
 								</div>
 							</div>
 						{{end}}
diff --git a/templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl b/templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl
index 07d760212..2da0af95b 100644
--- a/templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl
+++ b/templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl
@@ -10600,6 +10600,11 @@
           "type": "boolean",
           "x-go-name": "AutoInit"
         },
+        "default_branch": {
+          "description": "DefaultBranch of the repository (used when initializes and in template)",
+          "type": "string",
+          "x-go-name": "DefaultBranch"
+        },
         "description": {
           "description": "Description of the repository to create",
           "type": "string",