diff --git a/pkg/cmd/template_download.go b/pkg/cmd/template_download.go
index d9c63fe..a97dffa 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/template_download.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/template_download.go
@@ -51,9 +51,19 @@ func newTemplateDownloadCmd(app *App) *cobra.Command {
 			if err := pkggit.Clone(src.CloneURL, dest, pkggit.CloneOptions{Branch: src.Branch}); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+
+			// When no branch was specified, resolve the actual checked-out branch so that
+			// future update/upgrade checks can compare against the correct remote ref.
+			branch := src.Branch
+			if branch == "" {
+				if b, err := pkggit.CurrentBranch(dest); err == nil {
+					branch = b
+				}
+			}
+
 			// git layer logs describe result or failure
 			desc, _ := pkggit.Describe(dest)
-			if err := pkgtemplate.SaveMetadata(dest, name, src.CloneURL, src.Branch, desc.Commit, desc.Version, time.Now().UTC()); err != nil {
+			if err := pkgtemplate.SaveMetadata(dest, name, src.CloneURL, branch, desc.Commit, desc.Version, time.Now().UTC()); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/template_list.go b/pkg/cmd/template_list.go
index 6695abb..c384d98 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/template_list.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/template_list.go
@@ -47,6 +47,16 @@ func newTemplateListCmd(app *App) *cobra.Command {
 				if err != nil {
 					slog.Debug("failed to parse template metadata", "template", name, "error", err)
 				}
+				// Resolve and persist the branch when metadata has none so that the
+				// status refresh below and hasRemote checks work correctly.
+				if meta != nil && meta.Repository != "" && meta.Branch == "" {
+					if b, err := pkggit.CurrentBranch(root); err == nil {
+						meta.Branch = b
+						if err := pkgtemplate.SaveMetadata(root, name, meta.Repository, b, meta.Commit, meta.Version, meta.Created.Time); err != nil {
+							slog.Debug("failed to persist resolved branch", "template", name, "error", err)
+						}
+					}
+				}
 				var status *pkgtemplate.TemplateStatus
 				if meta != nil && meta.Repository != "" && meta.Branch != "" {
 					status, err = pkgtemplate.LoadStatus(root)
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/template_list_test.go b/pkg/cmd/template_list_test.go
index 9e04f56..0886e01 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/template_list_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/template_list_test.go
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	gogit "github.com/go-git/go-git/v5"
+	"github.com/go-git/go-git/v5/plumbing/object"
 	pkgtemplate "github.com/specsnl/specs-cli/pkg/template"
 	pkggit "github.com/specsnl/specs-cli/pkg/util/git"
 )
@@ -91,7 +93,8 @@ func TestList_StatusColumn_LocalNoStatus(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(tmplDir, 0755); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	// Local template: repository set but no branch.
+	// Local template: repository set but no branch AND no git repo — branch
+	// resolution fails, so status stays "-".
 	if err := pkgtemplate.SaveMetadata(tmplDir, "local-tpl", "/local/path", "", "", "", time.Now().UTC()); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -105,6 +108,54 @@ func TestList_StatusColumn_LocalNoStatus(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestList_StatusColumn_EmptyBranchWithGitRepo(t *testing.T) {
+	registryDir := withTempRegistry(t)
+	tmplDir := filepath.Join(registryDir, "remote-tpl")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(tmplDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Initialise a real git repo so CurrentBranch can resolve the branch.
+	repo, err := gogit.PlainInit(tmplDir, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("PlainInit: %v", err)
+	}
+	wt, _ := repo.Worktree()
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(tmplDir, "f.txt"), []byte("x"), 0644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := wt.Add("f.txt"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	sig := &object.Signature{Name: "t", Email: "t@t.com", When: time.Now()}
+	if _, err := wt.Commit("init", &gogit.CommitOptions{Author: sig}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Save metadata with empty Branch — simulates a template downloaded without
+	// an explicit branch specification.
+	if err := pkgtemplate.SaveMetadata(tmplDir, "remote-tpl", "https://example.com/repo", "", "", "", time.Now().UTC()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	out, err := executeCmdWithCheckFn(
+		func(_ context.Context, _, _, _ string) pkggit.RemoteCheckResult {
+			return pkggit.RemoteCheckResult{IsUpToDate: true}
+		},
+		"template", "list", "--output=json",
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("template list: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Branch was resolved from local HEAD so the check ran — status must not be "-".
+	if strings.Contains(out, `"Status":"-"`) {
+		t.Errorf("expected non-dash status when branch resolved from git HEAD, got: %q", out)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "up-to-date") {
+		t.Errorf("expected 'up-to-date' in output, got: %q", out)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestList_StatusColumn_FreshUpToDate(t *testing.T) {
 	registryDir := withTempRegistry(t)
 	tmplDir := filepath.Join(registryDir, "remote-tpl")
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/template_update.go b/pkg/cmd/template_update.go
index dfb18b2..a53c7ed 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/template_update.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/template_update.go
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ func newTemplateUpdateCmd(app *App) *cobra.Command {
 
 			networkErrorSeen := false
 			updatesAvailable := []string{}
+			checkedCount := 0
 
 			for _, name := range names {
 				root := specs.TemplatePath(name)
@@ -45,12 +46,27 @@ func newTemplateUpdateCmd(app *App) *cobra.Command {
 				if err != nil {
 					slog.Debug("failed to parse template metadata", "template", name, "error", err)
 				}
-				if meta == nil || meta.Repository == "" || meta.Branch == "" {
+				if meta == nil || meta.Repository == "" {
 					continue
 				}
 
+				branch := meta.Branch
+				if branch == "" {
+					b, err := pkggit.CurrentBranch(root)
+					if err != nil {
+						slog.Debug("could not resolve branch from local HEAD, skipping", "template", name, "error", err)
+						continue
+					}
+					branch = b
+					// Persist the resolved branch so future runs skip this fallback.
+					if err := pkgtemplate.SaveMetadata(root, name, meta.Repository, branch, meta.Commit, meta.Version, meta.Created.Time); err != nil {
+						slog.Debug("failed to persist resolved branch", "template", name, "error", err)
+					}
+				}
+
+				checkedCount++
 				// git layer logs the check-remote start/result
-				result := pkggit.CheckRemote(root, meta.Repository, meta.Branch)
+				result := pkggit.CheckRemote(root, meta.Repository, branch)
 
 				newStatus := &pkgtemplate.TemplateStatus{
 					CheckedAt:     pkgtemplate.JSONTime{Time: time.Now().UTC()},
@@ -95,8 +111,12 @@ func newTemplateUpdateCmd(app *App) *cobra.Command {
 						app.Output.Info("template %q has an update available", name)
 					}
 				}
-			} else if !networkErrorSeen {
-				app.Output.Info("all templates are up-to-date")
+			} else if !networkErrorSeen && checkedCount > 0 {
+				if len(names) == 1 {
+					app.Output.Info("template %q is up-to-date", names[0])
+				} else {
+					app.Output.Info("all templates are up-to-date")
+				}
 			}
 
 			return nil
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/template_update_test.go b/pkg/cmd/template_update_test.go
index 5a7a0b9..015cb78 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/template_update_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/template_update_test.go
@@ -45,3 +45,36 @@ func TestUpdate_TooManyArgs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("expected error when too many args given")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestUpdate_NamedLocalTemplate_ProducesNoOutput(t *testing.T) {
+	registryDir := withTempRegistry(t)
+
+	// A template with a local Repository but no Branch — silently skipped.
+	tmplDir := filepath.Join(registryDir, "local-tpl")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(tmplDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := pkgtemplate.SaveMetadata(tmplDir, "local-tpl", "/some/local/path", "", "", "", time.Now().UTC()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	out, err := executeCmd("template", "update", "local-tpl")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("template update local-tpl: %v", err)
+	}
+	if out != "" {
+		t.Errorf("expected no output for local/skipped template, got: %q", out)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUpdate_NoArgs_EmptyRegistry_ProducesNoOutput(t *testing.T) {
+	withTempRegistry(t)
+
+	out, err := executeCmd("template", "update")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("template update with empty registry: %v", err)
+	}
+	if out != "" {
+		t.Errorf("expected no output for empty registry, got: %q", out)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/registry/registry.go b/pkg/registry/registry.go
index fbb4974..3986de3 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/registry.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/registry.go
@@ -70,12 +70,22 @@ func Upgrade(name string) (UpgradeResult, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		slog.Debug("failed to parse template metadata", "template", name, "error", err)
 	}
-	if meta == nil || meta.Repository == "" || meta.Branch == "" {
+	if meta == nil || meta.Repository == "" {
 		return UpgradeResult{IsLocal: true}, nil
 	}
 
-	targetRef := meta.Branch
-	result := pkggit.CheckRemote(root, meta.Repository, meta.Branch)
+	branch := meta.Branch
+	if branch == "" {
+		b, err := pkggit.CurrentBranch(root)
+		if err != nil {
+			slog.Debug("could not resolve branch from local HEAD, treating as local", "template", name, "error", err)
+			return UpgradeResult{IsLocal: true}, nil
+		}
+		branch = b
+	}
+
+	targetRef := branch
+	result := pkggit.CheckRemote(root, meta.Repository, branch)
 	if err := result.Err(); err != nil {
 		return UpgradeResult{}, err
 	}
@@ -91,7 +101,7 @@ func Upgrade(name string) (UpgradeResult, error) {
 		"latest_version", result.LatestVersion,
 	)
 
-	newBranch := meta.Branch
+	newBranch := branch
 	if result.LatestVersion != "" {
 		targetRef = result.LatestVersion
 		newBranch = result.LatestVersion
diff --git a/pkg/util/git/describe_test.go b/pkg/util/git/describe_test.go
index 1623200..2d2e814 100644
--- a/pkg/util/git/describe_test.go
+++ b/pkg/util/git/describe_test.go
@@ -61,6 +61,46 @@ func tagCommit(t *testing.T, repo *gogit.Repository, name string, hash plumbing.
 	}
 }
 
+func TestCurrentBranch_OnBranch(t *testing.T) {
+	dir, repo := initRepo(t)
+	addCommit(t, repo, dir, "init")
+
+	got, err := pkggit.CurrentBranch(dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CurrentBranch: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got == "" {
+		t.Error("CurrentBranch: expected non-empty branch name")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCurrentBranch_DetachedHead(t *testing.T) {
+	dir, repo := initRepo(t)
+	hash := addCommit(t, repo, dir, "init")
+
+	// Detach HEAD by checking out a commit hash directly.
+	wt, err := repo.Worktree()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Worktree: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := wt.Checkout(&gogit.CheckoutOptions{Hash: hash}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Checkout (detach): %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = pkggit.CurrentBranch(dir)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("CurrentBranch: expected error for detached HEAD, got nil")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCurrentBranch_NotARepo(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := pkggit.CurrentBranch(t.TempDir())
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("CurrentBranch: expected error for non-repo directory, got nil")
+	}
+}
+
+
 func TestDescribe_ExactLightweightTag(t *testing.T) {
 	dir, repo := initRepo(t)
 	hash := addCommit(t, repo, dir, "init")
diff --git a/pkg/util/git/git.go b/pkg/util/git/git.go
index faf59f3..8b908e1 100644
--- a/pkg/util/git/git.go
+++ b/pkg/util/git/git.go
@@ -246,6 +246,24 @@ func sshAuth(url string) (transport.AuthMethod, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("no SSH authentication available: SSH agent not running and no usable key file found in ~/.ssh")
 }
 
+// CurrentBranch returns the short name of the currently checked-out branch in dir.
+// Returns an error when dir is not a git repository, HEAD cannot be read, or HEAD is in a
+// detached state (e.g. a tag checkout).
+func CurrentBranch(dir string) (string, error) {
+	repo, err := gogit.PlainOpen(dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("opening repository at %s: %w", dir, err)
+	}
+	head, err := repo.Head()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("reading HEAD: %w", err)
+	}
+	if !head.Name().IsBranch() {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("HEAD is not on a branch (detached HEAD or tag checkout)")
+	}
+	return head.Name().Short(), nil
+}
+
 // CheckErrorKind classifies why a remote status check failed.
 type CheckErrorKind string