diff --git a/plugins/git4idea/src/git4idea/branch/GitBranchesCollection.java b/plugins/git4idea/src/git4idea/branch/GitBranchesCollection.java
index 6992ebe851eb..c840b382fec0 100644
--- a/plugins/git4idea/src/git4idea/branch/GitBranchesCollection.java
+++ b/plugins/git4idea/src/git4idea/branch/GitBranchesCollection.java
@@ -47,14 +47,20 @@ public final class GitBranchesCollection {
     myLocalBranches = localBranches;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * @return the copy of local branches set.
+   */
   @NotNull
   public Set<GitBranch> getLocalBranches() {
-    return myLocalBranches;
+    return new HashSet<GitBranch>(myLocalBranches);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * @return the copy of remote branches set.
+   */
   @NotNull
   public Set<GitBranch> getRemoteBranches() {
-    return myRemoteBranches;
+    return new HashSet<GitBranch>(myRemoteBranches);
   }
 
   /**