diff --git a/scm-plugins/scm-git-plugin/src/main/java/sonia/scm/repository/GitUtil.java b/scm-plugins/scm-git-plugin/src/main/java/sonia/scm/repository/GitUtil.java
index 61ffa93c20..e3224b1515 100644
--- a/scm-plugins/scm-git-plugin/src/main/java/sonia/scm/repository/GitUtil.java
+++ b/scm-plugins/scm-git-plugin/src/main/java/sonia/scm/repository/GitUtil.java
@@ -250,6 +250,10 @@ public class GitUtil
     throws IOException
   {
     ObjectId branchId = null;
+    if ( ! branchName.startsWith(REF_HEAD) ){
+      branchName = PREFIX_HEADS.concat(branchName);
+    }
+    
     Ref ref = repo.getRef(branchName);
 
     if (ref != null)
diff --git a/scm-plugins/scm-git-plugin/src/main/java/sonia/scm/repository/spi/GitLogCommand.java b/scm-plugins/scm-git-plugin/src/main/java/sonia/scm/repository/spi/GitLogCommand.java
index cda92e56f6..97b7f08bc7 100644
--- a/scm-plugins/scm-git-plugin/src/main/java/sonia/scm/repository/spi/GitLogCommand.java
+++ b/scm-plugins/scm-git-plugin/src/main/java/sonia/scm/repository/spi/GitLogCommand.java
@@ -217,7 +217,16 @@ public class GitLogCommand extends AbstractGitCommand implements LogCommand
               PathFilter.create(request.getPath()), TreeFilter.ANY_DIFF));
         }
 
-        ObjectId head = GitUtil.getRepositoryHead(gr);
+        ObjectId head = null;
+
+        if (!Strings.isNullOrEmpty(request.getBranch()))
+        {
+          head = GitUtil.getBranchId(gr, request.getBranch());
+        }
+        else
+        {
+          head = GitUtil.getRepositoryHead(gr);
+        }
 
         if (head != null)
         {