diff --git a/mercurial/context.py b/mercurial/context.py
--- a/mercurial/context.py
+++ b/mercurial/context.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class changectx(object):
     def date(self): return self._changeset[2]
     def files(self): return self._changeset[3]
     def description(self): return self._changeset[4]
-    def branch(self): return self._changeset[5].get("branch", "")
+    def branch(self): return self._changeset[5].get("branch")
 
     def parents(self):
         """return contexts for each parent changeset"""
diff --git a/mercurial/localrepo.py b/mercurial/localrepo.py
--- a/mercurial/localrepo.py
+++ b/mercurial/localrepo.py
@@ -709,7 +709,7 @@ class localrepository(repo.repository):
             branchname = ""
 
         if use_dirstate:
-            oldname = c1[5].get("branch") or "default" # stored in UTF-8
+            oldname = c1[5].get("branch") # stored in UTF-8
             if not commit and not remove and not force and p2 == nullid and \
                    branchname == oldname:
                 self.ui.status(_("nothing changed\n"))