diff --git a/src/vcs/project.rs b/src/vcs/project.rs
index e0b990d..27c6fd0 100644
--- a/src/vcs/project.rs
+++ b/src/vcs/project.rs
@@ -67,9 +67,25 @@ impl Project {
         &self.path
     }
 
+    pub fn current_ref(&self) -> Result<Option<String>, Error> {
+        match self.repo.current_ref() {
+            Ok(val) => Ok(Some(val)),
+            Err(err) => {
+                eprintln!("{}: {}\n", self.name(), err);
+                Ok(None)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn current_profile(&self) -> Result<Option<String>, Error> {
-        let current_ref = self.repo.current_ref()?;
-        if let Some(val) = self.profile_map.iter().find(|v| v.1 == &current_ref) {
+        // repo.current_ref can fail if repo has no head yet (e.g. post init)
+        let current_ref = self.current_ref()?;
+
+        if let Some(val) = self
+            .profile_map
+            .iter()
+            .find(|v| Some(v.1) == current_ref.as_ref())
+        {
             return Ok(Some(val.0.clone()));
         }
 
@@ -127,7 +143,9 @@ impl Project {
         let title = format!(
             "{}: {} [{}]",
             self.name().bold().with(PROJECT_COLOR),
-            self.repo.current_ref()?.with(REFS_COLOR),
+            self.current_ref()?
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| "???".into())
+                .with(REFS_COLOR),
             format!("{}", self.path().display()).italic(),
         );
         let mut root = Tree::new(title);