diff --git a/bench/utils/__init__.py b/bench/utils/__init__.py
index b0402bee..160387d9 100644
--- a/bench/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/bench/utils/__init__.py
@@ -49,12 +49,17 @@ def is_frappe_app(directory: str) -> bool:
 	return bool(is_frappe_app)
 
 
-def is_valid_frappe_branch(frappe_path: str, frappe_branch: str):
+def is_valid_frappe_branch(frappe_path, frappe_branch):
 	if "http" in frappe_path:
-		url = frappe_path
-		url += "/tree/" + frappe_branch if frappe_branch else ""
-		return requests.get(url).status_code != 404
-	return True
+		frappe_path = frappe_path.replace(".git", "")
+		try:
+			owner, repo = frappe_path.split("/")[3], frappe_path.split("/")[4]
+		except IndexError:
+			raise InvalidRemoteException
+		git_api = f"https://api.github.com/repos/{owner}/{repo}/branches"
+		res = requests.get(git_api).json()
+		if "message" in res or frappe_branch not in [x["name"] for x in res]:
+			raise InvalidRemoteException
 
 
 def log(message, level=0, no_log=False):
diff --git a/bench/utils/system.py b/bench/utils/system.py
index ab27893c..152759d0 100644
--- a/bench/utils/system.py
+++ b/bench/utils/system.py
@@ -75,11 +75,7 @@ def init(
 	# remote apps
 	else:
 		frappe_path = frappe_path or "https://github.com/frappe/frappe.git"
-		frappe_branch = (
-			frappe_branch
-			if is_valid_frappe_branch(frappe_path, frappe_branch)
-			else None
-		)
+		is_valid_frappe_branch(frappe_path=frappe_path, frappe_branch=frappe_branch)
 		get_app(
 			frappe_path,
 			branch=frappe_branch,