diff --git a/debian/gbp.conf b/debian/gbp.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a5af3e1f7e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/debian/gbp.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+[DEFAULT]
+# Ignore requirement to use branch name 'master' to make it easier
+# for contributors to work with feature and bugfix branches
+# to Debian packaging
+ignore-branch = True