diff --git a/src/centpkg/__init__.py b/src/centpkg/__init__.py
index 97c01be..0935933 100644
--- a/src/centpkg/__init__.py
+++ b/src/centpkg/__init__.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 import os
 import re
+import warnings
 
 from pyrpkg import Commands, rpkgError
 from . import centos_cert
@@ -34,8 +35,10 @@ class DistGitDirectory(object):
     def __init__(self, branchtext):
         sigtobranchre = r'sig-(?P<signame>\w+)(?P<centosversion>\d)-?(?P<projectname>\w+)?-?(?P<releasename>\w+)?'
         distrobranchre = r'c(?P<centosversion>\d+)-?(?P<projectname>\w+)?'
+        oldbranchre = r'(?P<signame>\w+)(?P<centosversion>\d)'
         sigmatch = re.match(sigtobranchre, branchtext)
         distromatch = re.match(distrobranchre, branchtext)
+        oldbranchmatch = re.match(oldbranchre, branchtext)
         if sigmatch:
             gd = sigmatch.groupdict()
             self.signame = gd['signame']
@@ -56,6 +59,9 @@ class DistGitDirectory(object):
 
             if gd['projectname'] != 'common':
                 self.projectname = gd['projectname']
+        elif oldbranchmatch:
+            warnings.warn("This branch is deprecated and will be removed soon",
+                          DeprecationWarning)
         else:
             raise ValueError("Branchname: {0} is not valid".format(branchtext))