diff --git a/subcmds/init.py b/subcmds/init.py
index d86c49a..a32eaae 100644
--- a/subcmds/init.py
+++ b/subcmds/init.py
@@ -131,7 +131,9 @@
 
     m.Sync_LocalHalf()
     if is_new or m.CurrentBranch is None:
-      m.StartBranch('default')
+      if not m.StartBranch('default'):
+        print >>sys.stderr, 'fatal: cannot create default in manifest'
+        sys.exit(1)
 
   def _LinkManifest(self, name):
     if not name: