diff --git a/distrib/autobuild.py b/distrib/autobuild.py
index 06b341ea6f..187171384d 100755
--- a/distrib/autobuild.py
+++ b/distrib/autobuild.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def todays_platform_release():
         remote_copy('dsfmod/fmod-out-%s.txt' % sys_id(), ev.file_path('fmod-out-%s.txt' % sys_id()))
         remote_copy('dsfmod/fmod-err-%s.txt' % sys_id(), ev.file_path('fmod-err-%s.txt' % sys_id()))
                                              
-    git_checkout('master')
+    git_checkout(builder.config.BRANCH)
 
 
 def update_changes(fromTag=None, toTag=None, debChanges=False):
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def update_changes(fromTag=None, toTag=None, debChanges=False):
         # Make sure we have the latest changes.
         git_pull()
         fromTag = aptrepo_find_latest_tag()
-        toTag = 'master' # Everything up to now.
+        toTag = builder.config.BRANCH # Everything up to now.
     else:
         # Use the two most recent builds by default.
         if fromTag is None or toTag is None:
diff --git a/distrib/builder/changes.py b/distrib/builder/changes.py
index 2865b64eb0..2e3e6dd508 100644
--- a/distrib/builder/changes.py
+++ b/distrib/builder/changes.py
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ def __init__(self, fromTag, toTag):
         self.parse()
         
     def should_ignore(self, subject):
-        if subject.startswith("Merge branch 'master' of"):
-            # master->master merges are not listed.
+        if subject.startswith("Merge branch '%s' of" % config.BRANCH):
+            # Same-branch merges are not listed.
             return True
         return False
         
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ def parse(self):
                 
     def all_tags(self):
         # These words are always considered to be valid tags.
-        tags = ['Cleanup', 'Fixed', 'Added', 'Refactor', 'Performance', 'Optimize', 'merge branch']
+        tags = ['Cleanup', 'Fixed', 'Added', 'Refactor', 'Performance', 'Optimize', 'Merge branch']
         for e in self.entries:
             for t in e.tags + e.guessedTags:
                 if t not in tags: 
diff --git a/distrib/builder/config.py b/distrib/builder/config.py
index 72d1ce967d..dc6b626252 100644
--- a/distrib/builder/config.py
+++ b/distrib/builder/config.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ def get_arg(label):
 DISTRIB_DIR = '.'
 APT_REPO_DIR = ''
 TAG_MODIFIER = ''
+BRANCH = 'master'
 
 val = get_arg('--distrib')
 if val is not None: DISTRIB_DIR = val
@@ -28,6 +29,9 @@ def get_arg(label):
 val = get_arg('--apt')
 if val is not None: APT_REPO_DIR = val
 
+val = get_arg('--branch')
+if val is not None: BRANCH = val
+
 val = get_arg('--tagmod')
 if val is not None: TAG_MODIFIER = val
 
diff --git a/distrib/builder/git.py b/distrib/builder/git.py
index daeebbcb20..6c93dc9ff0 100644
--- a/distrib/builder/git.py
+++ b/distrib/builder/git.py
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ def git_checkout(ident):
 
 def git_pull():
     """Updates the source with a git pull."""
-    print 'Updating source...'
+    print 'Updating source from branch %s...' % builder.config.BRANCH
     os.chdir(builder.config.DISTRIB_DIR)
-    run_git("git checkout master")
+    run_git("git checkout " + builder.config.BRANCH)
     run_git("git pull")
     
     
diff --git a/distrib/builder/utils.py b/distrib/builder/utils.py
index 043cd14a2d..e829dd163b 100644
--- a/distrib/builder/utils.py
+++ b/distrib/builder/utils.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def aptrepo_by_time():
 
 def aptrepo_find_latest_tag():    
     debs = aptrepo_by_time()
-    if not debs: return 'master'
+    if not debs: return config.BRANCH
     arch = deb_arch()
     biggest = 0
     for deb in debs: