diff --git a/layerindex/models.py b/layerindex/models.py
index 379fdb6..6255c60 100644
--- a/layerindex/models.py
+++ b/layerindex/models.py
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ class LayerRecipeExtraURL(models.Model):
         url = url.replace('%pn%', recipe.pn)
         url = url.replace('%pv%', recipe.pv)
         url = url.replace('%branch%', recipe.layerbranch.branch.name)
-        url = url.replace('%actual_branch%', recipe.layerbranch.actual_branch)
+        url = url.replace('%actual_branch%', recipe.layerbranch.get_checkout_branch())
         return url
 
     def __str__(self):
@@ -311,11 +311,7 @@ class LayerBranch(models.Model):
     def commit_url(self, commit_hash):
         url = self.layer.vcs_web_commit_url
         url = url.replace('%hash%', commit_hash)
-        if self.actual_branch:
-            branchname = self.actual_branch
-        else:
-            branchname = self.branch.name
-        url = url.replace('%branch%', branchname)
+        url = url.replace('%branch%', self.get_checkout_branch())
         return url
 
     def test_tree_url(self):
@@ -324,6 +320,13 @@ class LayerBranch(models.Model):
     def test_file_url(self):
         return self.file_url('conf/layer.conf')
 
+    def get_checkout_branch(self):
+        """Get the branch that we actually need to check out in the repo"""
+        if self.actual_branch:
+            return self.actual_branch
+        else:
+            return self.branch.name
+
     def get_usage_url(self):
         usage_url = self.layer.usage_url
         if usage_url.startswith('http'):
diff --git a/layerindex/utils.py b/layerindex/utils.py
index 1fee4e7..63759f2 100644
--- a/layerindex/utils.py
+++ b/layerindex/utils.py
@@ -243,9 +243,7 @@ def checkout_repo(repodir, commit, logger, force=False):
         runcmd("git checkout %s" % commit, repodir, logger=logger)
 
 def checkout_layer_branch(layerbranch, repodir, logger=None):
-    branchname = layerbranch.branch.name
-    if layerbranch.actual_branch:
-        branchname = layerbranch.actual_branch
+    branchname = layerbranch.get_checkout_branch()
     checkout_repo(repodir, 'origin/%s' % branchname, logger)
 
 def is_layer_valid(layerdir):
diff --git a/templates/layerindex/detail.html b/templates/layerindex/detail.html
index 73c3030..299c3a2 100644
--- a/templates/layerindex/detail.html
+++ b/templates/layerindex/detail.html
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@
 
                     {% if layerbranch.vcs_last_commit %}
                     <p>
-                    <span class="text-muted"><small>Last commit: {{ layerbranch.vcs_last_commit|timesince }} ago ({{ layerbranch.branch.name }} branch)</small></span>
+                    <span class="text-muted"><small>Last commit: {{ layerbranch.vcs_last_commit|timesince }} ago ({{ layerbranch.get_checkout_branch }} branch)</small></span>
                     </p>
                     {% endif %}