diff --git a/module_build_service/scheduler/submit.py b/module_build_service/scheduler/submit.py
index 21e1aa56..5461495f 100644
--- a/module_build_service/scheduler/submit.py
+++ b/module_build_service/scheduler/submit.py
@@ -281,6 +281,8 @@ def format_mmd(mmd, scmurl, module=None, db_session=None, srpm_overrides=None):
 
         xmd["mbs"]["commit"] = full_scm_hash
 
+    default_ref = xmd["mbs"].get("branch") or conf.default_branch
+
     if mmd.get_rpm_component_names() or mmd.get_module_component_names():
         if "rpms" not in xmd["mbs"]:
             xmd["mbs"]["rpms"] = {}
@@ -309,7 +311,7 @@ def format_mmd(mmd, scmurl, module=None, db_session=None, srpm_overrides=None):
             if not pkg.get_cache():
                 pkg.set_cache(conf.rpms_default_cache + pkgname)
             if not pkg.get_ref():
-                pkg.set_ref(conf.default_branch)
+                pkg.set_ref(default_ref)
             if not pkg.get_arches():
                 for arch in conf.arches:
                     pkg.add_restricted_arch(arch)
@@ -325,7 +327,7 @@ def format_mmd(mmd, scmurl, module=None, db_session=None, srpm_overrides=None):
             if not mod.get_repository():
                 mod.set_repository(conf.modules_default_repository + modname)
             if not mod.get_ref():
-                mod.set_ref(conf.default_branch)
+                mod.set_ref(default_ref)
 
         # It is possible to override the ref of RPM component using
         # the rpm_component_ref_overrides.