diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0743d19..582c32d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ git checkout -
 
 ## Remove branches that have already been merged with master
 ```sh
-git branch --merged | grep -v '\*' | xargs -n 1 git branch -d
+git branch --merged master | grep -v '^\*' | xargs --no-run-if-empty -n 1 git branch -d
 ```
 
 ## List all branches and their upstreams, as well as last commit on branch
diff --git a/tips.json b/tips.json
index 4ecea28..6f90fca 100644
--- a/tips.json
+++ b/tips.json
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
     "tip": "git checkout -"
 }, {
     "title": "Remove branches that have already been merged with master",
-    "tip": "git branch --merged | grep -v '\\*' | xargs -n 1 git branch -d"
+    "tip": "git branch --merged master | grep -v '^\\*' | xargs --no-run-if-empty -n 1 git branch -d"
 }, {
     "title": "List all branches and their upstreams, as well as last commit on branch",
     "tip": "git branch -vv"