diff --git a/cros_mark_as_stable.py b/cros_mark_as_stable.py
index 4cf93cbe47..83f878260f 100755
--- a/cros_mark_as_stable.py
+++ b/cros_mark_as_stable.py
@@ -110,6 +110,9 @@ def _PrintUsageAndDie(error_message=''):
   else:
     sys.exit(1)
 
+def _BranchExists(name):
+  """Returns True is the branch exists"""
+  return _RunCommand('git branch').split().count(name) != 0
 
 def _PushChange():
   """Pushes changes to the git repository.
@@ -135,6 +138,10 @@ def _PushChange():
   description = 'Marking set of ebuilds as stable\n\n%s' % description
   merge_branch_name = 'merge_branch'
   _RunCommand('git remote update')
+  merge_branch = _GitBranch(merge_branch_name)
+  merge_branch.CreateBranch()
+  if not merge_branch.Exists():
+    generate_test_report.Die('Unable to create merge branch.')
   _RunCommand('git checkout -b %s %s' % (
       merge_branch_name, gflags.FLAGS.tracking_branch))
   _RunCommand('git merge --squash %s' % _STABLE_BRANCH_NAME)