diff --git a/gitstatus.sh b/gitstatus.sh
index fc48cf7..7782e62 100755
--- a/gitstatus.sh
+++ b/gitstatus.sh
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ branch="${line[0]}"
 if [[ "$branch" == *"Initial commit on"* ]]; then
   IFS=" " read -ra branch_line <<< "$branch"
   branch=${branch_line[-1]}
+  remote="_NO_REMOTE_TRACKING_"
 elif [[ "$branch" == *"no branch"* ]]; then
   tag=$( git describe --exact-match )
   if [[ -n "$tag" ]]; then