diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index bf42578..1726d9a 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 [submodule "balena-yocto-scripts"]
 	path = balena-yocto-scripts
 	url = https://github.com/balena-os/balena-yocto-scripts.git
+	branch = master
 [submodule "layers/poky"]
 	path = layers/poky
 	url = https://github.com/balena-os/poky
@@ -22,6 +23,8 @@
 [submodule "layers/meta-balena"]
 	path = layers/meta-balena
 	url = https://github.com/balena-os/meta-balena.git
+	branch = master
 [submodule "contracts"]
 	path = contracts
 	url = https://github.com/balena-io/contracts.git
+	branch = master