diff --git a/nf_core/pipeline-template/nextflow.config b/nf_core/pipeline-template/nextflow.config
index 21174bbdc5..000d7cd664 100644
--- a/nf_core/pipeline-template/nextflow.config
+++ b/nf_core/pipeline-template/nextflow.config
@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ manifest {
     homePage        = 'https://github.com/{{ name }}'
     description     = """{{ description }}"""
     mainScript      = 'main.nf'
+    defaultBranch   = '{{ default_branch }}'
     nextflowVersion = '!>=24.04.2'
     version         = '{{ version }}'
     doi             = ''