diff --git a/master/buildbot/clients/tryclient.py b/master/buildbot/clients/tryclient.py
index 56661df7cde..ebc39e85a16 100644
--- a/master/buildbot/clients/tryclient.py
+++ b/master/buildbot/clients/tryclient.py
@@ -194,15 +194,21 @@ def _didvc(self, res, cmd):
 
         return stdout
 
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def getBaseRevision(self):
         upstream = ""
         if self.repository:
             upstream = "r'%s'" % self.repository
-        d = self.dovc(["log", "--template", "{node}\\n", "-r", "max(::. - outgoing(%s))" % upstream])
-        d.addCallback(self.parseStatus)
-        return d
-
-    def parseStatus(self, output):
+        output = ''
+        try:
+            output = yield self.dovc(["log", "--template", "{node}\\n", "-r",
+                                      "max(::. - outgoing(%s))" % upstream])
+        except RuntimeError:
+            # outgoing() will abort if no default-push/default path is configured
+            if upstream:
+                raise
+            # fall back to current working directory parent
+            output = yield self.dovc(["log", "--template", "{node}\\n", "-r", "p1()"])
         m = re.search(r'^(\w+)', output)
         if not m:
             raise RuntimeError("Revision %r is not in the right format" % (output,))