diff --git a/hgext/git/gitlog.py b/hgext/git/gitlog.py
--- a/hgext/git/gitlog.py
+++ b/hgext/git/gitlog.py
@@ -221,9 +221,10 @@ class changelog(baselog):
             n = self.node(nodeorrev)
         else:
             n = nodeorrev
+        extra = {b'branch': b'default'}
         # handle looking up nullid
         if n == nullid:
-            return hgchangelog._changelogrevision(extra={}, manifest=nullid)
+            return hgchangelog._changelogrevision(extra=extra, manifest=nullid)
         hn = gitutil.togitnode(n)
         # We've got a real commit!
         files = [
@@ -253,7 +254,7 @@ class changelog(baselog):
             filesremoved=filesremoved,
             description=c.message.encode('utf8'),
             # TODO do we want to handle extra? how?
-            extra={b'branch': b'default'},
+            extra=extra,
         )
 
     def ancestors(self, revs, stoprev=0, inclusive=False):
diff --git a/tests/test-git-interop.t b/tests/test-git-interop.t
--- a/tests/test-git-interop.t
+++ b/tests/test-git-interop.t
@@ -57,6 +57,12 @@ Test some edge cases around a commitless
   $ hg init --git
   $ hg heads
   [1]
+  $ hg tip
+  changeset:   -1:000000000000
+  tag:         tip
+  user:        
+  date:        Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+  
   $ cd ..
 
 Make a new repo with git: