diff --git a/lib/git_exporter.py b/lib/git_exporter.py
index ebbab73..44c4a7e 100644
--- a/lib/git_exporter.py
+++ b/lib/git_exporter.py
@@ -86,6 +86,11 @@ class GitExporter:
             logging.debug(f"Committing {flat}")
             self.commit_flat(flat, branch_state)
 
+        # make sure that we create devel branch
+        if not branch_state["devel"]:
+            logging.debug("force creating devel")
+            self.git.set_branch_head("devel", self.git.branch_head("factory"))
+
         self.git.push(force=True)
 
     def run_gc(self):