diff --git a/mercurial/commands.py b/mercurial/commands.py
--- a/mercurial/commands.py
+++ b/mercurial/commands.py
@@ -1223,6 +1223,7 @@ def branches(ui, repo, active=False, clo
     Returns 0.
     """
 
+    ui.pager('branches')
     fm = ui.formatter('branches', opts)
     hexfunc = fm.hexfunc