diff --git a/src/com/gitblit/utils/ActivityUtils.java b/src/com/gitblit/utils/ActivityUtils.java
index 204fe3c32..d6afd93c9 100644
--- a/src/com/gitblit/utils/ActivityUtils.java
+++ b/src/com/gitblit/utils/ActivityUtils.java
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ public static List<Activity> getRecentActivity(List<RepositoryModel> models, int
 
 				// determine commit branch
 				String branch = objectId;
-				if (StringUtils.isEmpty(branch)) {
+				if (StringUtils.isEmpty(branch) && !commits.isEmpty()) {
 					List<RefModel> headRefs = allRefs.get(commits.get(0).getId());
 					List<String> localBranches = new ArrayList<String>();
 					for (RefModel ref : headRefs) {