diff --git a/manic/externals_description.py b/manic/externals_description.py
index 918d616e37..42755e1a52 100644
--- a/manic/externals_description.py
+++ b/manic/externals_description.py
@@ -193,6 +193,9 @@ def parse_submodules_desc_section(section_items, file_path):
 def read_gitmodules_file(root_dir, file_name):
     # pylint: disable=deprecated-method
     # Disabling this check because the method is only used for python2
+    # pylint: disable=too-many-locals
+    # pylint: disable=too-many-branches
+    # pylint: disable=too-many-statements
     """Read a .gitmodules file and convert it to be compatible with an
     externals description.
     """
diff --git a/manic/repository_git.py b/manic/repository_git.py
index f986051001..3a6a0f1716 100644
--- a/manic/repository_git.py
+++ b/manic/repository_git.py
@@ -109,27 +109,21 @@ def _clone_repo(self, base_dir_path, repo_dir_name, verbosity):
     def _current_ref(self):
         """Determine the *name* associated with HEAD.
 
-        If we're on a branch, then returns the branch name; otherwise,
-        if we're on a tag, then returns the tag name; otherwise, returns
+        If we're on a tag, then returns the tag name; otherwise, returns
         the current hash. Returns an empty string if no reference can be
         determined (e.g., if we're not actually in a git repository).
+
+        If we're on a branch, then the branch name is also included in
+        the returned string (in addition to the tag / hash).
         """
         ref_found = False
 
-        # If we're on a branch, then use that as the current ref
-        branch_found, branch_name = self._git_current_branch()
-        if branch_found:
-            current_ref = branch_name
+        # If we're exactly at a tag, use that as the current ref
+        tag_found, tag_name = self._git_current_tag()
+        if tag_found:
+            current_ref = tag_name
             ref_found = True
 
-        if not ref_found:
-            # Otherwise, if we're exactly at a tag, use that as the
-            # current ref
-            tag_found, tag_name = self._git_current_tag()
-            if tag_found:
-                current_ref = tag_name
-                ref_found = True
-
         if not ref_found:
             # Otherwise, use current hash as the current ref
             hash_found, hash_name = self._git_current_hash()
@@ -137,7 +131,12 @@ def _current_ref(self):
                 current_ref = hash_name
                 ref_found = True
 
-        if not ref_found:
+        if ref_found:
+            # If we're on a branch, include branch name in current ref
+            branch_found, branch_name = self._git_current_branch()
+            if branch_found:
+                current_ref = "{} (branch {})".format(current_ref, branch_name)
+        else:
             # If we still can't find a ref, return empty string. This
             # can happen if we're not actually in a git repo
             current_ref = ''
diff --git a/test/test_sys_checkout.py b/test/test_sys_checkout.py
index 118bee5308..9889feba0c 100644
--- a/test/test_sys_checkout.py
+++ b/test/test_sys_checkout.py
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 import os
 import os.path
 import shutil
-import sys
 import unittest
 
 from manic.externals_description import ExternalsDescription
diff --git a/test/test_unit_repository_git.py b/test/test_unit_repository_git.py
index 4a0a334bb1..b153e556a9 100644
--- a/test/test_unit_repository_git.py
+++ b/test/test_unit_repository_git.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def test_ref_branch(self):
             True, 'feature3')
         self._repo._git_current_tag = self._git_current_tag(True, 'foo_tag')
         self._repo._git_current_hash = self._git_current_hash(True, 'abc123')
-        expected = 'feature3'
+        expected = 'foo_tag (branch feature3)'
         result = self._repo._current_ref()
         self.assertEqual(result, expected)