diff --git a/src/bors/comment.rs b/src/bors/comment.rs
index 8fe5b478..5eeac044 100644
--- a/src/bors/comment.rs
+++ b/src/bors/comment.rs
@@ -202,8 +202,8 @@ pub fn merge_conflict_comment(branch: &str) -> Comment {
     let message = format!(
         r#":lock: Merge conflict
 
-This pull request and the master branch diverged in a way that cannot
- be automatically merged. Please rebase on top of the latest master
+This pull request and the base branch diverged in a way that cannot
+ be automatically merged. Please rebase on top of the latest base
  branch, and let the reviewer approve again.
 
 <details><summary>How do I rebase?</summary>
@@ -212,8 +212,8 @@ Assuming `self` is your fork and `upstream` is this repository,
  you can resolve the conflict following these steps:
 
 1. `git checkout {branch}` *(switch to your branch)*
-2. `git fetch upstream master` *(retrieve the latest master)*
-3. `git rebase upstream/master -p` *(rebase on top of it)*
+2. `git fetch upstream HEAD` *(retrieve the latest base branch)*
+3. `git rebase upstream/HEAD -p` *(rebase on top of it)*
 4. Follow the on-screen instruction to resolve conflicts (check `git status` if you got lost).
 5. `git push self {branch} --force-with-lease` *(update this PR)*
 
diff --git a/src/bors/handlers/trybuild.rs b/src/bors/handlers/trybuild.rs
index 3f971c1b..e94046b1 100644
--- a/src/bors/handlers/trybuild.rs
+++ b/src/bors/handlers/trybuild.rs
@@ -591,8 +591,8 @@ try-job: Bar
             insta::assert_snapshot!(tester.get_comment_text(()).await?, @r###"
             :lock: Merge conflict
 
-            This pull request and the master branch diverged in a way that cannot
-             be automatically merged. Please rebase on top of the latest master
+            This pull request and the base branch diverged in a way that cannot
+             be automatically merged. Please rebase on top of the latest base
              branch, and let the reviewer approve again.
 
             <details><summary>How do I rebase?</summary>
@@ -601,8 +601,8 @@ try-job: Bar
              you can resolve the conflict following these steps:
 
             1. `git checkout pr-1` *(switch to your branch)*
-            2. `git fetch upstream master` *(retrieve the latest master)*
-            3. `git rebase upstream/master -p` *(rebase on top of it)*
+            2. `git fetch upstream HEAD` *(retrieve the latest base branch)*
+            3. `git rebase upstream/HEAD -p` *(rebase on top of it)*
             4. Follow the on-screen instruction to resolve conflicts (check `git status` if you got lost).
             5. `git push self pr-1 --force-with-lease` *(update this PR)*
 
diff --git a/src/bors/merge_queue.rs b/src/bors/merge_queue.rs
index ccfb8cdb..85b31401 100644
--- a/src/bors/merge_queue.rs
+++ b/src/bors/merge_queue.rs
@@ -814,8 +814,8 @@ merge_queue_enabled = false
                 @r#"
             :lock: Merge conflict
 
-            This pull request and the master branch diverged in a way that cannot
-             be automatically merged. Please rebase on top of the latest master
+            This pull request and the base branch diverged in a way that cannot
+             be automatically merged. Please rebase on top of the latest base
              branch, and let the reviewer approve again.
 
             <details><summary>How do I rebase?</summary>
@@ -824,8 +824,8 @@ merge_queue_enabled = false
              you can resolve the conflict following these steps:
 
             1. `git checkout pr-1` *(switch to your branch)*
-            2. `git fetch upstream master` *(retrieve the latest master)*
-            3. `git rebase upstream/master -p` *(rebase on top of it)*
+            2. `git fetch upstream HEAD` *(retrieve the latest base branch)*
+            3. `git rebase upstream/HEAD -p` *(rebase on top of it)*
             4. Follow the on-screen instruction to resolve conflicts (check `git status` if you got lost).
             5. `git push self pr-1 --force-with-lease` *(update this PR)*