diff --git a/git_helpers b/git_helpers
index 19bbf74..8f2531a 100755
--- a/git_helpers
+++ b/git_helpers
@@ -81,12 +81,14 @@ clone_customer_repository () {
                 $(exec_git_command git clone "$1")
                 if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
                     log_debug "$func:${LINENO} cloning ${1} done"
+                    GIT_CLONE_EXECUTED=1
                     # after cloning, cd into repository, and re-initialize,
                     # setting the work-tree as "/". This has the effect that
                     # a "git pull" will automatically fetched files in the
                     # corresponding sytem-folders.
                     if cd ${CUSTOMER_ID_BASE_DIR}; then
                         # local res=$(exec_git_command git --git-dir=.git --work-tree=/ init)
+                        exec_git_command git checkout "$LOCAL_BRANCH"
                         exec_git_command git config core.worktree "/"
                         if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
                             # re-initialized. copy post-merge (a hook called