diff --git a/config/Config-devel.in b/config/Config-devel.in
index fd57bcbccd2..09311751b42 100644
--- a/config/Config-devel.in
+++ b/config/Config-devel.in
@@ -62,6 +62,24 @@ menuconfig DEVEL
 		  This will create a git clone of the kernel in your build
 		  directory.
 
+	config KERNEL_GIT_LOCAL_REPOSITORY
+		string "Enter path to local reference repository" if DEVEL
+		depends on (KERNEL_GIT_CLONE_URI != "")
+		default ""
+		help
+		  Enter a full pathname to a local reference git repository.
+		  In this instance, the --refererence option of git clone will
+		  be used thus creating a quick local clone of your repo.
+
+	config KERNEL_GIT_BRANCH
+		string "Enter git branch to clone" if DEVEL
+		depends on (KERNEL_GIT_CLONE_URI != "")
+		default ""
+		help
+		  Enter the branch name to checkout after cloning the git repository.
+		  In this instance, the --branch option of git clone will be used.
+		  If unused, the clone's repository HEAD will be checked-out.
+
 	config BUILD_LOG
 		bool "Enable log files during build process" if DEVEL
 		help
diff --git a/include/kernel-defaults.mk b/include/kernel-defaults.mk
index fd75a3f79ff..f1f5a81313d 100644
--- a/include/kernel-defaults.mk
+++ b/include/kernel-defaults.mk
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ ifneq ($(strip $(CONFIG_KERNEL_GIT_LOCAL_REPOSITORY)),"")
   KERNEL_GIT_OPTS+=--reference $(CONFIG_KERNEL_GIT_LOCAL_REPOSITORY)
 endif
 
+ifneq ($(strip $(CONFIG_KERNEL_GIT_BRANCH)),"")
+  KERNEL_GIT_OPTS+=--branch $(CONFIG_KERNEL_GIT_BRANCH)
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(strip $(CONFIG_EXTERNAL_KERNEL_TREE)),"")
   ifeq ($(strip $(CONFIG_KERNEL_GIT_CLONE_URI)),"")
     define Kernel/Prepare/Default