diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/git.test.ts b/packages/core/src/__tests__/git.test.ts
index 980dcc983..5fd0b9950 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/git.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/git.test.ts
@@ -127,14 +127,6 @@ describe("github", () => {
   });
 
   describe("getTagNotInBaseBranch", () => {
-    test("works with no tags, defaults to first commit", async () => {
-      const gh = new Git(options);
-      gh.getTags = () => Promise.resolve([]);
-      expect(await gh.getTagNotInBaseBranch("branch")).toBe(
-        "0b2af75d8b55c8869cda93d0e5589ad9f2677e18"
-      );
-    });
-
     test("finds greatest tag not in base branch", async () => {
       const gh = new Git(options);
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/auto.ts b/packages/core/src/auto.ts
index 0bf7b72c7..c68e4f05b 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/auto.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/auto.ts
@@ -1243,7 +1243,9 @@ export default class Auto {
     const initialForkCommit = (forkPoints[forkPoints.length - 1] || "").slice(1);
     const lastRelease =
       initialForkCommit || (await this.git.getLatestRelease());
-    const lastTag = await this.git.getLastTagNotInBaseBranch(currentBranch!);
+    const lastTag =
+      (await this.git.getLastTagNotInBaseBranch(currentBranch!)) ||
+      (await this.git.getFirstCommit());
     const fullReleaseNotes = await this.release.generateReleaseNotes(
       lastRelease
     );
diff --git a/packages/core/src/git.ts b/packages/core/src/git.ts
index 522488216..1d897623a 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/git.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/git.ts
@@ -870,10 +870,10 @@ export default class Git {
     this.logger.verbose.info("Tags found in branch:", branchTags);
     this.logger.verbose.info(
       `${options.first ? "First" : "Latest"} tag in branch:`,
-      firstGreatestUnique
+      firstGreatestUnique || "Not Found"
     );
 
-    return firstGreatestUnique || this.getFirstCommit();
+    return firstGreatestUnique;
   }
 
   /** Get the last tag that isn't in the base branch */