diff --git a/tests/vcs/git/conftest.py b/tests/vcs/git/conftest.py
index 6e0c08dbb5f..7c1004fec82 100644
--- a/tests/vcs/git/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/vcs/git/conftest.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 @pytest.fixture()
 def temp_repo(tmp_path: Path) -> TempRepoFixture:
     """Temporary repository with 2 commits"""
-    repo = dulwich.repo.Repo.init(str(tmp_path))
+    repo = dulwich.repo.Repo.init(str(tmp_path), default_branch=b"main")
     worktree = repo.get_worktree()
 
     # init commit
diff --git a/tests/vcs/git/test_backend.py b/tests/vcs/git/test_backend.py
index 5b242c1b75f..a0c885e7f1e 100644
--- a/tests/vcs/git/test_backend.py
+++ b/tests/vcs/git/test_backend.py
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ def test_clone_existing_locked_tag(tmp_path: Path, temp_repo: TempRepoFixture) -
         Git.clone(url=source_url, source_root=source_root_dir, name="clone-test")
 
     expected_short = (
-        f"Failed to clone {source_url} at 'refs/heads/master',"
+        f"Failed to clone {source_url} at 'refs/heads/main',"
         f" unable to acquire file lock for {tag_ref}."
     )
     assert str(exc_info.value) == expected_short