diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/vcs/backends/__init__.py b/rhodecode/lib/vcs/backends/__init__.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/vcs/backends/__init__.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/vcs/backends/__init__.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def get_repo(path=None, alias=None, crea
     if path is None:
         path = abspath(os.path.curdir)
     try:
-        scm, path = get_scm(path, search_recursively=True)
+        scm, path = get_scm(path, search_up=True)
         path = abspath(path)
         alias = scm
     except VCSError:
diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/vcs/utils/helpers.py b/rhodecode/lib/vcs/utils/helpers.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/vcs/utils/helpers.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/vcs/utils/helpers.py
@@ -15,14 +15,14 @@ from rhodecode.lib.vcs.utils.paths impor
 ALIASES = ['hg', 'git']
 
 
-def get_scm(path, search_recursively=False, explicit_alias=None):
+def get_scm(path, search_up=False, explicit_alias=None):
     """
     Returns one of alias from ``ALIASES`` (in order of precedence same as
     shortcuts given in ``ALIASES``) and top working dir path for the given
     argument. If no scm-specific directory is found or more than one scm is
     found at that directory, ``VCSError`` is raised.
 
-    :param search_recursively: if set to ``True``, this function would try to
+    :param search_up: if set to ``True``, this function would try to
       move up to parent directory every time no scm is recognized for the
       currently checked path. Default: ``False``.
     :param explicit_alias: can be one of available backend aliases, when given
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def get_scm(path, search_recursively=Fal
         return [(scm, path) for scm in get_scms_for_path(path)]
 
     found_scms = get_scms(path)
-    while  not found_scms and search_recursively:
+    while not found_scms and search_up:
         newpath = abspath(path, '..')
         if newpath == path:
             break