diff --git a/backend/src/services/git_service.py b/backend/src/services/git_service.py
index a5147ef9..85da63ae 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/git_service.py
+++ b/backend/src/services/git_service.py
@@ -319,12 +319,13 @@ class GitService:
     # @PARAM: remote_url (str)
     # @PARAM: pat (str) - Personal Access Token for authentication.
     # @PARAM: repo_key (Optional[str]) - Slug-like key for deterministic folder naming on first init.
+    # @PARAM: default_branch (Optional[str]) - Default branch name to use (defaults to 'main').
     # @PRE: dashboard_id is int, remote_url is valid Git URL, pat is provided.
     # @POST: Repository is cloned or opened at the local path.
     # @RETURN: Repo - GitPython Repo object.
     # @RELATION: CALLS -> [GitService._get_repo_path]
     # @RELATION: CALLS -> [GitService._ensure_gitflow_branches]
-    def init_repo(self, dashboard_id: int, remote_url: str, pat: str, repo_key: Optional[str] = None) -> Repo:
+    def init_repo(self, dashboard_id: int, remote_url: str, pat: str, repo_key: Optional[str] = None, default_branch: Optional[str] = None) -> Repo:
         with belief_scope("GitService.init_repo"):
             self._ensure_base_path_exists()
             repo_path = self._get_repo_path(dashboard_id, repo_key=repo_key or str(dashboard_id))
@@ -354,7 +355,11 @@ class GitService:
                 return repo
             
             logger.info(f"[init_repo][Action] Cloning {remote_url} to {repo_path}")
-            repo = Repo.clone_from(auth_url, repo_path)
+            # Use default_branch if specified, otherwise let GitPython use the remote's default
+            clone_kwargs = {}
+            if default_branch:
+                clone_kwargs['branch'] = default_branch
+            repo = Repo.clone_from(auth_url, repo_path, **clone_kwargs)
             self._ensure_gitflow_branches(repo, dashboard_id)
             return repo
     # [/DEF:backend.src.services.git_service.GitService.init_repo:Function]