1 files changed, 24 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/checks/change_access.rb b/lib/gitlab/checks/change_access.rb
index f76a6fb5f17..7a4224e5bbe 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/checks/change_access.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/checks/change_access.rb
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ module Gitlab
           end
         else
           unless user_access.can_push_to_branch?(branch_name)
-            raise GitAccess::UnauthorizedError, ERROR_MESSAGES[:push_protected_branch]
+            raise GitAccess::UnauthorizedError, push_to_protected_branch_rejected_message
           end
         end
       end
@@ -140,6 +140,29 @@ module Gitlab
 
       private
 
+      def push_to_protected_branch_rejected_message
+        if project.empty_repo?
+          empty_project_push_message
+        else
+          ERROR_MESSAGES[:push_protected_branch]
+        end
+      end
+
+      def empty_project_push_message
+        <<~MESSAGE
+
+        A default branch (e.g. master) does not yet exist for #{project.full_path}
+        Ask a project Owner or Maintainer to create a default branch:
+
+          #{project_members_url}
+
+        MESSAGE
+      end
+
+      def project_members_url
+        Gitlab::Routing.url_helpers.project_project_members_url(project)
+      end
+
       def should_run_commit_validations?
         commit_check.validate_lfs_file_locks?
       end