diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2c950a7..71c4ab0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ Set this **before** `source <(carapace _carapace)`. You may need `carapace --cle
 Create a managed worktree for a branch.
 
 - If the branch already exists, the worktree is created from that branch.
-- If the branch does not exist, it is created from the branch pointed at by `origin/HEAD`; set it explicitly with `--upstream` | `-u`.
+- If the branch does not exist, it is created from the branch pointed at by `origin/HEAD`, or if that is unset from `origin/master` then `origin/main`; set it explicitly with `--upstream` | `-u`.
 - When run inside [Herdr](https://herdr.dev) (`HERDR_ENV=1`), automatically create a Herdr workspace whose `--cwd` is the new worktree and whose `--label` is the worktree name (branch name).
 - Use `-r` | `--herdr` to create a Herdr workspace explicitly, or `-R` | `--no-herdr` to suppress automatic creation.
 - Herdr workspace creation through `wt create` implies `--no-cd`.
diff --git a/internal/gitwt/gitwt_test.go b/internal/gitwt/gitwt_test.go
index b0b916b..017ae67 100644
--- a/internal/gitwt/gitwt_test.go
+++ b/internal/gitwt/gitwt_test.go
@@ -160,13 +160,51 @@ func TestCreateUsesOriginHeadAsDefaultUpstream(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestCreateFailsWhenOriginHeadIsMissing(t *testing.T) {
+func TestCreateFallsBackToOriginMasterWhenOriginHeadIsMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	const branchName = "feature/fallback-master"
+	const masterBranch = "master"
+
+	testRepository := newTestRepository(t)
+	runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "branch", masterBranch, remoteName+"/main")
+	runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "push", remoteName, masterBranch)
+	runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "remote", "set-head", "--delete", remoteName)
+
+	result := testRepository.runGitWT(t, "create", branchName)
+	if result.err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create failed: %v\n%s", result.err, result.stderr)
+	}
+
+	upstream := strings.TrimSpace(runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", branchName+"@{upstream}"))
+	if upstream != remoteName+"/"+masterBranch {
+		t.Fatalf("created branch upstream = %q, want %q", upstream, remoteName+"/"+masterBranch)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCreateFallsBackToOriginMainWhenOriginHeadAndMasterAreMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	const branchName = "feature/fallback-main"
+
 	testRepository := newTestRepository(t)
 	runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "remote", "set-head", "--delete", remoteName)
 
-	result := testRepository.runGitWT(t, "create", "feature/missing-origin-head")
+	result := testRepository.runGitWT(t, "create", branchName)
+	if result.err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create failed: %v\n%s", result.err, result.stderr)
+	}
+
+	upstream := strings.TrimSpace(runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", branchName+"@{upstream}"))
+	if upstream != remoteName+"/main" {
+		t.Fatalf("created branch upstream = %q, want %q", upstream, remoteName+"/main")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCreateFailsWhenOriginHeadAndCommonDefaultsAreMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	testRepository := newTestRepository(t)
+	runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "remote", "set-head", "--delete", remoteName)
+	runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "update-ref", "-d", "refs/remotes/origin/main")
+
+	result := testRepository.runGitWT(t, "create", "feature/missing-default-upstream")
 	if result.err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("create succeeded without origin/HEAD")
+		t.Fatal("create succeeded without origin/HEAD, origin/master, or origin/main")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(result.err.Error(), "resolve origin/HEAD") {
 		t.Fatalf("create error = %q, want origin/HEAD resolution error", result.err)
diff --git a/internal/gitwt/repository.go b/internal/gitwt/repository.go
index b38f34e..7cbf6cb 100644
--- a/internal/gitwt/repository.go
+++ b/internal/gitwt/repository.go
@@ -202,11 +202,34 @@ func (x *Repository) mainWorktreeBranch() (string, error) {
 
 func (x *Repository) remoteHeadBranch() (string, error) {
 	result, err := x.git("symbolic-ref", "--quiet", "--short", "refs/remotes/origin/HEAD")
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("resolve origin/HEAD: %w", err)
+	if err == nil {
+		return result.stdout, nil
+	}
+
+	fallback, fallbackErr := x.firstExistingRemoteBranch("master", "main")
+	if fallbackErr != nil {
+		return "", fallbackErr
+	}
+	if fallback != "" {
+		return fallback, nil
+	}
+
+	return "", fmt.Errorf("resolve origin/HEAD: %w", err)
+}
+
+func (x *Repository) firstExistingRemoteBranch(branchNames ...string) (string, error) {
+	for _, branchName := range branchNames {
+		remoteBranch := remoteName + "/" + branchName
+		exists, err := x.branchStillExists(referenceName(remoteRefPrefix + remoteBranch))
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		if exists {
+			return remoteBranch, nil
+		}
 	}
 
-	return result.stdout, nil
+	return "", nil
 }
 
 func (x *Repository) upstreamReference(branchName string) (referenceName, error) {