diff --git a/docs/internal-fs-layout.md b/docs/internal-fs-layout.md
index b06e898f..5e8690b8 100644
--- a/docs/internal-fs-layout.md
+++ b/docs/internal-fs-layout.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ For example, if you want to change the manifest branch, you can simply run
 
     It tracks the git repository at `REPO_URL` using the `REPO_REV` branch.
     Those are specified at `repo init` time using the `--repo-url=<REPO_URL>`
-    and `--repo-branch=<REPO_REV>` options.
+    and `--repo-rev=<REPO_REV>` options.
 
     Any changes made to this directory will usually be automatically discarded
     by repo itself when it checks for updates.  If you want to update to the
diff --git a/docs/release-process.md b/docs/release-process.md
index 121c3bf1..93a0f3e0 100644
--- a/docs/release-process.md
+++ b/docs/release-process.md
@@ -49,11 +49,11 @@ control how repo finds updates:
 
 *   `--repo-url`: This tells repo where to clone the full repo project itself.
     It defaults to the official project (`REPO_URL` in the launcher script).
-*   `--repo-branch`: This tells repo which branch to use for the full project.
+*   `--repo-rev`: This tells repo which branch to use for the full project.
     It defaults to the `stable` branch (`REPO_REV` in the launcher script).
 
 Whenever `repo sync` is run, repo will check to see if an update is available.
-It fetches the latest repo-branch from the repo-url.
+It fetches the latest repo-rev from the repo-url.
 Then it verifies that the latest commit in the branch has a valid signed tag
 using `git tag -v` (which uses gpg).
 If the tag is valid, then repo will update its internal checkout to it.
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ When you want to create a new release, you'll need to select a good version and
 create a signed tag using a key registered in repo itself.
 Typically we just tag the latest version of the `master` branch.
 The tag could be pushed now, but it won't be used by clients normally (since the
-default `repo-branch` setting is `stable`).
+default `repo-rev` setting is `stable`).
 This would allow some early testing on systems who explicitly select `master`.
 
 ### Creating a signed tag
diff --git a/repo b/repo
index c6a56c65..6670c0d3 100755
--- a/repo
+++ b/repo
@@ -328,8 +328,10 @@ def GetParser(gitc_init=False):
   group = parser.add_option_group('repo Version options')
   group.add_option('--repo-url', metavar='URL',
                    help='repo repository location ($REPO_URL)')
-  group.add_option('--repo-branch', metavar='REVISION',
+  group.add_option('--repo-rev', metavar='REV',
                    help='repo branch or revision ($REPO_REV)')
+  group.add_option('--repo-branch', dest='repo_rev',
+                   help=optparse.SUPPRESS_HELP)
   group.add_option('--no-repo-verify',
                    dest='repo_verify', default=True, action='store_false',
                    help='do not verify repo source code')
@@ -473,7 +475,7 @@ def _Init(args, gitc_init=False):
   opt.verbose = opt.output_mode is True
 
   url = opt.repo_url or REPO_URL
-  branch = opt.repo_branch or REPO_REV
+  branch = opt.repo_rev or REPO_REV
 
   if branch.startswith('refs/heads/'):
     branch = branch[len('refs/heads/'):]
diff --git a/subcmds/init.py b/subcmds/init.py
index 94bd44ca..431165d4 100644
--- a/subcmds/init.py
+++ b/subcmds/init.py
@@ -166,9 +166,10 @@ to update the working directory files.
     g.add_option('--repo-url',
                  dest='repo_url',
                  help='repo repository location', metavar='URL')
-    g.add_option('--repo-branch',
-                 dest='repo_branch',
-                 help='repo branch or revision', metavar='REVISION')
+    g.add_option('--repo-rev', metavar='REV',
+                 help='repo branch or revision')
+    g.add_option('--repo-branch', dest='repo_rev',
+                 help=optparse.SUPPRESS_HELP)
     g.add_option('--no-repo-verify',
                  dest='repo_verify', default=True, action='store_false',
                  help='do not verify repo source code')
diff --git a/subcmds/sync.py b/subcmds/sync.py
index dadf2e45..de6deecb 100644
--- a/subcmds/sync.py
+++ b/subcmds/sync.py
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ later is required to fix a server side protocol bug.
       base = rp.GetBranch(cb).merge
       if not base or not base.startswith('refs/heads/'):
         print('warning: repo is not tracking a remote branch, so it will not '
-              'receive updates; run `repo init --repo-branch=stable` to fix.',
+              'receive updates; run `repo init --repo-rev=stable` to fix.',
               file=sys.stderr)
 
     mp = self.manifest.manifestProject