diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/storage/localfilesystem/projects/git/index.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/storage/localfilesystem/projects/git/index.js
index 8aabcebe2..77b9ad2cd 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/storage/localfilesystem/projects/git/index.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/storage/localfilesystem/projects/git/index.js
@@ -421,7 +421,10 @@ module.exports = {
         });
     },
     initRepo: function(cwd) {
-        return runGitCommand(["init"],cwd);
+        var args = ["init", "--initial-branch", "main"];
+        return runGitCommand(args, cwd).catch(function () {
+            return runGitCommand(["init"], cwd);
+        });
     },
     setUpstream: function(cwd,remoteBranch) {
         var args = ["branch","--set-upstream-to",remoteBranch];