diff --git a/branches.go b/branches.go
index 9159e92..3b642c1 100644
--- a/branches.go
+++ b/branches.go
@@ -82,3 +82,29 @@ func (repo *Repo) DeleteLocalDevelBranch() error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("local branch has patches not in remote")
 	}
 }
+
+// makes a local branch based off of the master branch
+// (unless a remote devel branch exists. then it uses that)
+func (repo *Repo) MakeLocalDevelBranch() error {
+	branch := repo.GetDevelBranchName()
+	if branch == "" {
+		// hard coded default
+		branch = "devel"
+	}
+	if repo.Exists(filepath.Join(".git/refs/heads", branch)) {
+		// local devel branch already exists
+		return nil
+	}
+	if repo.Exists(filepath.Join(".git/refs/remotes/origin", branch)) {
+		// remote devel branch exists, but local does not
+		cmd := []string{"git", "checkout", branch}
+		repo.RunVerbose(cmd)
+		return nil
+	}
+	master := repo.GetMasterBranchName()
+	cmd := []string{"git", "branch", branch, master}
+	repo.RunVerbose(cmd)
+	cmd = []string{"git", "checkout", branch}
+	repo.RunVerbose(cmd)
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/checkout.go b/checkout.go
index ce8c88b..f2df501 100644
--- a/checkout.go
+++ b/checkout.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package gitpb
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 
@@ -84,12 +85,11 @@ func (repo *Repo) checkoutBranch(bName string) bool {
 
 func (repo *Repo) createUserBranchNew(branch string) error {
 	if branch == "" || branch == "uerr" {
-		log.Info("forge.gitpb logic err. branch name was:", branch)
-		return nil
+		return fmt.Errorf("forge.gitpb logic err. branch name was: %s", branch)
 	}
 	if repo.IsDirty() {
 		// never change repos on dirty branches
-		return nil
+		return fmt.Errorf("repo is dirty")
 	}
 	// log.Info("forge.gitpb look for branch name was:", branch, repo.GetGoPath())