diff --git a/git_cl.py b/git_cl.py
index f20df97..1b441c0 100755
--- a/git_cl.py
+++ b/git_cl.py
@@ -4257,7 +4257,7 @@
     # Load default for user, repo, squash=true, in this order.
     options.squash = settings.GetSquashGerritUploads()
 
-  cl = Changelist()
+  cl = Changelist(branchref=options.target_branch)
   # Warm change details cache now to avoid RPCs later, reducing latency for
   # developers.
   if cl.GetIssue():