diff --git a/repository/factory.go b/repository/factory.go
index 982f5f8..45ce01b 100644
--- a/repository/factory.go
+++ b/repository/factory.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func New(destDir string, remote *Remote, identities []api.Ref) (r SCM, err error
 type SCM interface {
 	Validate() (err error)
 	Fetch() (err error)
-	Branch(name string) (err error)
+	Branch(ref string) (err error)
 	Commit(files []string, msg string) (err error)
 	Head() (commit string, err error)
 }
diff --git a/repository/git.go b/repository/git.go
index 0cc199f..414e27c 100644
--- a/repository/git.go
+++ b/repository/git.go
@@ -86,17 +86,17 @@ func (r *Git) Fetch() (err error) {
 }
 
 // Branch creates a branch with the given name if not exist and switch to it.
-func (r *Git) Branch(name string) (err error) {
+func (r *Git) Branch(ref string) (err error) {
 	cmd := command.New("/usr/bin/git")
 	cmd.Dir = r.Path
-	cmd.Options.Add("checkout", name)
+	cmd.Options.Add("checkout", ref)
 	err = cmd.Run()
 	if err != nil {
 		cmd = command.New("/usr/bin/git")
 		cmd.Dir = r.Path
-		cmd.Options.Add("checkout", "-b", name)
+		cmd.Options.Add("checkout", "-b", ref)
 	}
-	r.Remote.Branch = name
+	r.Remote.Branch = ref
 	return cmd.Run()
 }
 
diff --git a/repository/subversion.go b/repository/subversion.go
index a6d40dc..b0b423d 100644
--- a/repository/subversion.go
+++ b/repository/subversion.go
@@ -74,18 +74,19 @@ func (r *Subversion) Fetch() (err error) {
 }
 
 // Branch checks out a branch.
-// The branch is created as needed.  The Remote.URL will be set to the branchURL.
-func (r *Subversion) Branch(branchURL string) (err error) {
+// The branch is created as needed.  The Remote.URL will be set to the ref.
+// The `ref` must be a URL.
+func (r *Subversion) Branch(ref string) (err error) {
 	branch := Subversion{
 		Authenticated: r.Authenticated,
 		Remote:        r.Remote,
 		Path:          r.Path,
 	}
-	_, err = urllib.Parse(branchURL)
+	_, err = urllib.Parse(ref)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
-	branch.Remote.URL = branchURL
+	branch.Remote.URL = ref
 	defer func() {
 		if err == nil {
 			r.Remote.URL = branch.Remote.URL