diff --git a/migration-tools/migrate-rosdistro.py b/migration-tools/migrate-rosdistro.py
index bb94fe4c8669b..eb2ed7d2d5a1b 100644
--- a/migration-tools/migrate-rosdistro.py
+++ b/migration-tools/migrate-rosdistro.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 import tempfile
 
 from bloom.commands.git.patch.common import get_patch_config, set_patch_config
-from bloom.git import inbranch, show
+from bloom.git import inbranch, show, track_branches
 
 import github
 import yaml
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ def write_tracks_file(tracks, commit_msg=None):
         if release_repo.endswith('.git'):
             release_repo = release_repo[:-4]
         subprocess.check_call(['git', 'clone', remote_url])
+        track_branches(None, release_repo)
         os.chdir(release_repo)
         tracks = read_tracks_file()