diff --git a/manifest_xml.py b/manifest_xml.py
index 45896be9..d888653d 100644
--- a/manifest_xml.py
+++ b/manifest_xml.py
@@ -189,7 +189,10 @@ class XmlManifest(Manifest):
   def _Load(self):
     if not self._loaded:
       m = self.manifestProject
-      b = m.GetBranch(m.CurrentBranch).merge
+      b = m.GetBranch(m.CurrentBranch)
+      if b.remote and b.remote.name:
+        m.remote.name = b.remote.name
+      b = b.merge
       if b is not None and b.startswith(R_HEADS):
         b = b[len(R_HEADS):]
       self.branch = b
diff --git a/project.py b/project.py
index 6188ca72..c79e8fb9 100644
--- a/project.py
+++ b/project.py
@@ -1442,10 +1442,12 @@ class MetaProject(Project):
     if self.Exists:
       cb = self.CurrentBranch
       if cb:
-        base = self.GetBranch(cb).merge
-        if base:
-          self.revisionExpr = base
+        cb = self.GetBranch(cb)
+        if cb.merge:
+          self.revisionExpr = cb.merge
           self.revisionId = None
+        if cb.remote and cb.remote.name:
+          self.remote.name = cb.remote.name
 
   @property
   def LastFetch(self):
diff --git a/repo b/repo
index f73fa58b..ff7c4188 100755
--- a/repo
+++ b/repo
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 del magic
 
 # increment this whenever we make important changes to this script
-VERSION = (1, 8)
+VERSION = (1, 9)
 
 # increment this if the MAINTAINER_KEYS block is modified
 KEYRING_VERSION = (1,0)
@@ -109,6 +109,10 @@ group = init_optparse.add_option_group('Manifest options')
 group.add_option('-u', '--manifest-url',
                  dest='manifest_url',
                  help='manifest repository location', metavar='URL')
+group.add_option('-o', '--origin',
+                 dest='manifest_origin',
+                 help="use REMOTE instead of 'origin' to track upstream",
+                 metavar='REMOTE')
 group.add_option('-b', '--manifest-branch',
                  dest='manifest_branch',
                  help='manifest branch or revision', metavar='REVISION')
diff --git a/subcmds/init.py b/subcmds/init.py
index 0586721f..53c3a010 100644
--- a/subcmds/init.py
+++ b/subcmds/init.py
@@ -62,6 +62,10 @@ to update the working directory files.
     g.add_option('-b', '--manifest-branch',
                  dest='manifest_branch',
                  help='manifest branch or revision', metavar='REVISION')
+    g.add_option('-o', '--origin',
+                 dest='manifest_origin',
+                 help="use REMOTE instead of 'origin' to track upstream",
+                 metavar='REMOTE')
     if isinstance(self.manifest, XmlManifest) \
     or not self.manifest.manifestProject.Exists:
       g.add_option('-m', '--manifest-name',
@@ -84,6 +88,27 @@ to update the working directory files.
                  dest='no_repo_verify', action='store_true',
                  help='do not verify repo source code')
 
+  def _ApplyOptions(self, opt, is_new):
+    m = self.manifest.manifestProject
+
+    if is_new:
+      if opt.manifest_origin:
+        m.remote.name = opt.manifest_origin
+
+      if opt.manifest_branch:
+        m.revisionExpr = opt.manifest_branch
+      else:
+        m.revisionExpr = 'refs/heads/master'
+    else:
+      if opt.manifest_origin:
+        print >>sys.stderr, 'fatal: cannot change origin name'
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+      if opt.manifest_branch:
+        m.revisionExpr = opt.manifest_branch
+      else:
+        m.PreSync()
+
   def _SyncManifest(self, opt):
     m = self.manifest.manifestProject
     is_new = not m.Exists
@@ -98,16 +123,7 @@ to update the working directory files.
         print >>sys.stderr, '   from %s' % opt.manifest_url
       m._InitGitDir()
 
-      if opt.manifest_branch:
-        m.revisionExpr = opt.manifest_branch
-      else:
-        m.revisionExpr = 'refs/heads/master'
-    else:
-      if opt.manifest_branch:
-        m.revisionExpr = opt.manifest_branch
-      else:
-        m.PreSync()
-
+    self._ApplyOptions(opt, is_new)
     if opt.manifest_url:
       r = m.GetRemote(m.remote.name)
       r.url = opt.manifest_url