diff --git a/makefiles/lint/helm/branch-detect.mk b/makefiles/lint/helm/branch-detect.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f7d6c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/makefiles/lint/helm/branch-detect.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# -*- makefile -*-
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Copyright 2022-2023 Open Networking Foundation (ONF) and the ONF Contributors
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+# http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Intent: Define for includers
+#    o get-git-branch
+#    - lint-helm-branch   -- clean this up, generic set by USE_LEGACY=undef
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+## -------------------------------------------------------------------
+## NOTE: This uglyness can go away with proper command line switch use
+## -------------------------------------------------------------------
+##   o USE_LEGACY= (default)
+##       - bridge logic: support existing behavior.
+##       - helmlint.sh contains hardcoded branch='origin/opencord'
+##   o TODO:
+##       - infer values from repository checkout on disk.
+##       - parameterize helmlint.sh
+##       - use simple flags to toggle behavior:
+##           MASTER_BRANCH=1  || --branch master (default)
+##           LOCAL_BRANCH=1   || --branch local)
+##           MY_BRANCH=1      || --branch local
+##       - Better yet: when branch name is known simply pass it:
+##           % make lint-helm BRANCH=alt-branch-name
+## -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+# USE_LEGACY = 1
+ifdef USE_LEGACY
+  $(if $(DEBUG),$(info ifdef USE_LEGACY))
+
+  lint-helm-branch ?= $(shell cat .gitreview | grep branch | cut -d '=' -f2)
+
+else
+  $(if $(DEBUG),$(info not USE_LEGACY))
+
+  ifdef LOCAL_BRANCH
+     get-git-branch ?= $(shell $(GIT) branch --show-current)# empty if detached
+     get-git-branch ?= $(shell awk -F '/branch/ {print $$2}' .gitreview)
+     get-git-branch ?= $(error Detected detached head)
+
+  else # master
+     # refs/remotes/origin/HEAD => origin/master
+     get-git-branch ?= $(shell $(GIT) symbolic-ref --short refs/remotes/origin/HEAD)
+  endif
+
+  lint-helm-branch ?= $(COMPARISON_BRANCH)
+  lint-helm-branch ?= $(get-git-branch)
+
+  $(if $(DEBUG),$(info get-git-branch = $(get-git-branch)))
+  $(if $(DEBUG),$(info lint-branch=$(lint-branch)))
+endif
+
+# [EOF]