2 files changed, 7 insertions, 6 deletions

diff --git a/subcmds/start.py b/subcmds/start.py
index d1430a9d..290b6897 100644
--- a/subcmds/start.py
+++ b/subcmds/start.py
@@ -54,8 +54,7 @@ revision specified in the manifest.
     if not opt.all:
       projects = args[1:]
       if len(projects) < 1:
-        print("error: at least one project must be specified", file=sys.stderr)
-        sys.exit(1)
+        projects = ['.',]  # start it in the local project by default
 
     all_projects = self.GetProjects(projects,
                                     missing_ok=bool(self.gitc_manifest))
diff --git a/subcmds/upload.py b/subcmds/upload.py
index 4b05f1e8..1172dadc 100644
--- a/subcmds/upload.py
+++ b/subcmds/upload.py
@@ -454,7 +454,11 @@ Gerrit Code Review:  http://code.google.com/p/gerrit/
       if avail:
         pending.append((project, avail))
 
-    if pending and (not opt.bypass_hooks):
+    if not pending:
+      print("no branches ready for upload", file=sys.stderr)
+      return
+
+    if not opt.bypass_hooks:
       hook = RepoHook('pre-upload', self.manifest.repo_hooks_project,
                       self.manifest.topdir,
                       self.manifest.manifestProject.GetRemote('origin').url,
@@ -474,9 +478,7 @@ Gerrit Code Review:  http://code.google.com/p/gerrit/
       cc = _SplitEmails(opt.cc)
     people = (reviewers, cc)
 
-    if not pending:
-      print("no branches ready for upload", file=sys.stderr)
-    elif len(pending) == 1 and len(pending[0][1]) == 1:
+    if len(pending) == 1 and len(pending[0][1]) == 1:
       self._SingleBranch(opt, pending[0][1][0], people)
     else:
       self._MultipleBranches(opt, pending, people)