--- a/src/hgext3rd/hggit_serve/_export.py	Mon Feb 23 17:12:03 2026 -0500
+++ b/src/hgext3rd/hggit_serve/_export.py	Mon Feb 23 17:12:20 2026 -0500
@@ -118,14 +118,16 @@
         try:
             hgnode = repo.branchtip(branch)
         except hgerr.RepoLookupError:
-            # This branch somehow doesn't exist???
-            ui.warn(f"{branch!r} doesn't seem to exist?".encode())
-            return
+            # The default branch may not exist.
+            if branch != b'default':
+                ui.warn(f"{branch!r} doesn't seem to exist?\n".encode())
+                return
+            hgnode = repo.changelog.tip()
     hgsha = binascii.hexlify(hgnode)
     gitsha = repo.githandler.map_git_get(hgsha)
     if not gitsha:
         # No Git SHA to match this Hg sha. Give up.
-        ui.warn(f'revision {hgsha!r} was not exported to Git'.encode())
+        ui.warn(f'revision {hgsha!r} was not exported to Git\n'.encode())
         return
     refs = repo.githandler.git.refs
     refs.add_packed_refs({git_branch: gitsha})