diff --git a/services/release/release.go b/services/release/release.go
index 7c1eb180529..149eb0321c5 100644
--- a/services/release/release.go
+++ b/services/release/release.go
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ func createTag(ctx context.Context, gitRepo *git.Repository, rel *repo_model.Rel
 				}
 			}
 
-			commit, err := gitRepo.GetCommit(ctx, rel.Target)
+			target := util.IfZero(rel.Target, rel.Repo.DefaultBranch)
+			commit, err := gitRepo.GetCommit(ctx, target)
 			if err != nil {
 				return false, err
 			}
diff --git a/services/release/release_test.go b/services/release/release_test.go
index 434e65ab435..5dfaed384d8 100644
--- a/services/release/release_test.go
+++ b/services/release/release_test.go
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ func TestRelease_Update(t *testing.T) {
 		PublisherID:  user.ID,
 		Publisher:    user,
 		TagName:      "v1.1.2",
-		Target:       "master",
+		Target:       "",
 		Title:        "v1.1.2 is released",
 		Note:         "v1.1.2 is released",
 		IsDraft:      true,