diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/repo.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/repo.go
index f69cbee0c..415677528 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/repo.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/repo.go
@@ -213,6 +213,9 @@ func Search(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 
 // CreateUserRepo create a repository for a user
 func CreateUserRepo(ctx *context.APIContext, owner *models.User, opt api.CreateRepoOption) {
+	if opt.AutoInit && opt.Readme == "" {
+		opt.Readme = "Default"
+	}
 	repo, err := models.CreateRepository(ctx.User, owner, models.CreateRepoOptions{
 		Name:        opt.Name,
 		Description: opt.Description,