diff --git a/tools/appliance/build.sh b/tools/appliance/build.sh
index 61dee0255a8..13e7c8481d6 100755
--- a/tools/appliance/build.sh
+++ b/tools/appliance/build.sh
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ build_date=`date +%Y-%m-%d`
 branch=
 
 if [ -z "$branch" ] ; then
-  branch=`git status | grep '# On branch' | awk '{print $4}'`
+  branch=$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)
 fi
 
 if [ -z "$branch" ] ; then