diff --git a/src/branch.c b/src/branch.c
index e2a451518..70efd6a25 100644
--- a/src/branch.c
+++ b/src/branch.c
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ int git_branch_move(
 	if ((error = git_buf_joinpath(&new_reference_name, GIT_REFS_HEADS_DIR, new_branch_name)) < 0)
 		goto done;
 
-	if ((error = git_buf_printf(&log_message, "Branch: renamed %s to %s",
+	if ((error = git_buf_printf(&log_message, "branch: renamed %s to %s",
 				    git_reference_name(branch), git_buf_cstr(&new_reference_name))) < 0)
 			goto done;
 
diff --git a/tests/refs/branches/move.c b/tests/refs/branches/move.c
index 6e335d1fa..fa0b2faca 100644
--- a/tests/refs/branches/move.c
+++ b/tests/refs/branches/move.c
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ void test_refs_branches_move__default_reflog_message(void)
 
 	cl_git_pass(git_reflog_read(&log, repo, git_reference_name(new_branch)));
 	entry = git_reflog_entry_byindex(log, 0);
-	cl_assert_equal_s("Branch: renamed refs/heads/master to refs/heads/master2",
+	cl_assert_equal_s("branch: renamed refs/heads/master to refs/heads/master2",
 			git_reflog_entry_message(entry));
 	cl_assert_equal_s(sig->email, git_reflog_entry_committer(entry)->email);