diff --git a/docs/source/quickinstall.rst b/docs/source/quickinstall.rst
index e6c9e4488e..2cee56987a 100644
--- a/docs/source/quickinstall.rst
+++ b/docs/source/quickinstall.rst
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ following commands in a terminal:
 
     git clone git://github.com/mit-crpg/openmc.git
     cd openmc/src
+    git checkout master
     make
     sudo make install
 
diff --git a/docs/source/usersguide/install.rst b/docs/source/usersguide/install.rst
index ef01aeff7f..d5ea3d9c2d 100644
--- a/docs/source/usersguide/install.rst
+++ b/docs/source/usersguide/install.rst
@@ -102,6 +102,12 @@ repository::
 
     git clone git://github.com/mit-crpg/openmc.git
 
+By default, the cloned repository will be set to the development branch. To
+switch to the source of the latest stable release, run the following commands::
+
+    cd openmc/src
+    git checkout master
+
 .. _GitHub: https://github.com/mit-crpg/openmc
 .. _git: http://git-scm.com
 .. _ssh: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Shell