diff --git a/git_refs.py b/git_refs.py
index ac8ed0c..b24a0b4 100644
--- a/git_refs.py
+++ b/git_refs.py
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ HEAD    = 'HEAD'
 R_HEADS = 'refs/heads/'
 R_TAGS  = 'refs/tags/'
 R_PUB   = 'refs/published/'
-R_M     = 'refs/remotes/m/'
 
 
 class GitRefs(object):
diff --git a/manifest.py b/manifest.py
index bf801df..0762098 100644
--- a/manifest.py
+++ b/manifest.py
@@ -35,3 +35,10 @@ class Manifest(object):
   @property
   def IsMirror(self):
     return self.manifestProject.config.GetBoolean('repo.mirror')
+
+  @property
+  def projects(self):
+    return {}
+
+  def SetMRefs(self, project):
+    pass
diff --git a/manifest_xml.py b/manifest_xml.py
index 97df75b..66cdf3e 100644
--- a/manifest_xml.py
+++ b/manifest_xml.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from error import ManifestParseError
 
 MANIFEST_FILE_NAME = 'manifest.xml'
 LOCAL_MANIFEST_NAME = 'local_manifest.xml'
+R_M = 'refs/remotes/m/'
 
 class _Default(object):
   """Project defaults within the manifest."""
@@ -168,6 +169,10 @@ class XmlManifest(Manifest):
     self._Load()
     return self._default
 
+  def SetMRefs(self, project):
+    if self.branch:
+      project._InitAnyMRef(R_M + self.branch)
+
   def _Unload(self):
     self._loaded = False
     self._projects = {}
diff --git a/project.py b/project.py
index bedc91e..6188ca7 100644
--- a/project.py
+++ b/project.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ from git_config import GitConfig, IsId
 from error import GitError, ImportError, UploadError
 from error import ManifestInvalidRevisionError
 
-from git_refs import GitRefs, HEAD, R_HEADS, R_TAGS, R_PUB, R_M
+from git_refs import GitRefs, HEAD, R_HEADS, R_TAGS, R_PUB
 
 def _lwrite(path, content):
   lock = '%s.lock' % path
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ class Project(object):
       return False
 
     if self.worktree:
-      self._InitMRef()
+      self.manifest.SetMRefs(self)
     else:
       self._InitMirrorHead()
       try:
@@ -1080,10 +1080,6 @@ class Project(object):
         remote.ResetFetch(mirror=True)
       remote.Save()
 
-  def _InitMRef(self):
-    if self.manifest.branch:
-      self._InitAnyMRef(R_M + self.manifest.branch)
-
   def _InitMirrorHead(self):
     self._InitAnyMRef(HEAD)