diff --git a/kiwixbuild/dependencies/base.py b/kiwixbuild/dependencies/base.py
index 1688623..b901ab5 100644
--- a/kiwixbuild/dependencies/base.py
+++ b/kiwixbuild/dependencies/base.py
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ class GitClone(Source):
 
     @property
     def release_git_ref(self):
-        return main_project_versions.get(self.name, "master")
+        return main_project_versions.get(self.name, self.base_git_ref)
 
     @property
     def source_dir(self):
diff --git a/kiwixbuild/dependencies/libzim.py b/kiwixbuild/dependencies/libzim.py
index a7688c2..7a00d06 100644
--- a/kiwixbuild/dependencies/libzim.py
+++ b/kiwixbuild/dependencies/libzim.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ class Libzim(Dependency):
     class Source(GitClone):
         git_remote = "https://github.com/openzim/libzim.git"
         git_dir = "libzim"
+        base_git_ref = "main"
 
     class Builder(MesonBuilder):
         test_option = "-t 8"
diff --git a/kiwixbuild/dependencies/zim_tools.py b/kiwixbuild/dependencies/zim_tools.py
index 4c67504..97c626d 100644
--- a/kiwixbuild/dependencies/zim_tools.py
+++ b/kiwixbuild/dependencies/zim_tools.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class ZimTools(Dependency):
     class Source(GitClone):
         git_remote = "https://github.com/openzim/zim-tools.git"
         git_dir = "zim-tools"
+        base_git_ref = "main"
 
     class Builder(MesonBuilder):
         @classmethod