diff --git a/send-pack.c b/send-pack.c
index 9fc8a812f4..fd985ed28d 100644
--- a/send-pack.c
+++ b/send-pack.c
@@ -204,7 +204,8 @@ static int send_pack(int in, int out, struct remote *remote, int nr_refspec, cha
 		return -1;
 
 	if (!remote_refs) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "No refs in common and none specified; doing nothing.\n");
+		fprintf(stderr, "No refs in common and none specified; doing nothing.\n"
+			"Perhaps you should specify a branch such as 'master'.\n");
 		return 0;
 	}