diff --git a/lib/workers/repository/error.js b/lib/workers/repository/error.js
index 43bdf43aa107f8de7c815adaac44ddd92db4934c..6becb9114ea3a4d18423a20cb034df04fa91ec3f 100644
--- a/lib/workers/repository/error.js
+++ b/lib/workers/repository/error.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ function handleError(config, err) {
   const { logger } = config;
   if (err.message === 'uninitiated') {
     logger.info('Repository is uninitiated - skipping');
+    delete config.branchList; // eslint-disable-line no-param-reassign
     return err.message;
   } else if (err.message === 'disabled') {
     logger.info('Repository is disabled - skipping');