diff --git a/stackrc b/stackrc
index ea8b044faf..f96688bf6c 100644
--- a/stackrc
+++ b/stackrc
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ IRONIC_PYTHON_AGENT_BRANCH=${IRONIC_PYTHON_AGENT_BRANCH:-master}
 
 # a websockets/html5 or flash powered VNC console for vm instances
 NOVNC_REPO=${NOVNC_REPO:-https://github.com/kanaka/noVNC.git}
-NOVNC_BRANCH=${NOVNC_BRANCH:-master}
+NOVNC_BRANCH=${NOVNC_BRANCH:-stable/v0.6}
 
 # a websockets/html5 or flash powered SPICE console for vm instances
 SPICE_REPO=${SPICE_REPO:-http://anongit.freedesktop.org/git/spice/spice-html5.git}
diff --git a/tests/test_refs.sh b/tests/test_refs.sh
index bccca5dff7..65848cdc72 100755
--- a/tests/test_refs.sh
+++ b/tests/test_refs.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 echo "Ensuring we don't have crazy refs"
 
-REFS=`grep BRANCH stackrc | grep -v -- '-master'`
+REFS=`grep BRANCH stackrc | grep -v -- '-master' | grep -v 'NOVNC_BRANCH'`
 rc=$?
 if [[ $rc -eq 0 ]]; then
     echo "Branch defaults must be master. Found:"