diff --git a/checkout.go b/checkout.go
index 8e489a8..2b0e3f2 100644
--- a/checkout.go
+++ b/checkout.go
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 package gitpb
 
-import "go.wit.com/log"
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+)
 
 func (repo *Repo) CheckoutMaster() bool {
 	bName := repo.GetMasterBranchName()
@@ -20,13 +25,14 @@ func (repo *Repo) CheckoutDevel() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (repo *Repo) CheckoutUser() bool {
+func (repo *Repo) CheckoutUser() error {
 	bName := repo.GetUserBranchName()
-	if repo.checkoutBranch(bName) {
-		repo.UserBranchName = bName
-		return true
+	// log.Info("attempting checkout user", repo.GetGoPath(), bName)
+	err := repo.checkoutBranchNew(bName)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Info("attempting checkout user error", repo.GetGoPath(), bName, err)
 	}
-	return false
+	return err
 }
 
 func (repo *Repo) BranchExists(bName string) bool {
@@ -61,3 +67,53 @@ func (repo *Repo) checkoutBranch(bName string) bool {
 	}
 	return true
 }
+
+func (repo *Repo) checkoutBranchNew(branch string) error {
+	if branch == "" || branch == "uerr" {
+		log.Info("forge.gitpb logic err. branch name was:", branch)
+		return nil
+	}
+	if repo.IsDirty() {
+		// never change repos on dirty branches
+		return nil
+	}
+	// log.Info("forge.gitpb look for branch name was:", branch, repo.GetGoPath())
+
+	if repo.Exists(filepath.Join(".git/refs/heads", branch)) {
+		var err error
+		// there is already a local user branch
+		cmd := []string{"git", "checkout", branch}
+		if _, err = repo.RunVerboseOnError(cmd); err == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+		log.Log(INFO, "git checkout error:", err)
+	}
+
+	if repo.Exists(filepath.Join(".git/refs/remote/origin", branch)) {
+		var err error
+		// there is a remote user branch
+		// todo: check other remotes
+		cmd := []string{"git", "checkout", branch}
+		if _, err = repo.RunVerboseOnError(cmd); err == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+		log.Log(INFO, "git checkout error:", err)
+	}
+
+	if repo.GetCurrentBranchName() != repo.GetDevelBranchName() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("repo must be on devel branch %s", repo.GetGoPath())
+	}
+
+	// log.Info("forge.gitpb try to create", branch, repo.GetGoPath())
+
+	// create the branch from devel
+	cmd := []string{"git", "branch", branch}
+	if _, err := repo.RunVerboseOnError(cmd); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	cmd = []string{"git", "checkout", branch}
+	if _, err := repo.RunVerboseOnError(cmd); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/currentVersions.go b/currentVersions.go
index db2ebfa..7f64335 100644
--- a/currentVersions.go
+++ b/currentVersions.go
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ func (repo *Repo) setDevelVersion() {
 
 func (repo *Repo) setUserVersion() {
 	bname := repo.GetUserBranchName()
+	if !repo.Exists(filepath.Join(".git/refs/heads", bname)) {
+		// the user branch does not exist at this time
+		repo.UserVersion = "uerr"
+		return
+	}
 	v, err := repo.gitVersionByName(bname)
 	if err == nil {
 		repo.UserVersion = v