diff --git a/.bash_aliases b/.bash_aliases
index 0f4b7bb..9633fd1 100644
--- a/.bash_aliases
+++ b/.bash_aliases
@@ -83,6 +83,18 @@ gitf () {
             gitf w
             ;;
 
+        # Checkout [and create] a git branch (defaults to "master")
+        "b")
+            local branch="${2:-master}"
+
+            if git show-ref --verify --quiet refs/heads/"$branch"; then
+                git checkout $branch
+                return 0
+            fi
+
+            git checkout -b $branch
+            ;;
+
         # Clear local branches that have no upstream on remote (cleanup)
         "c")
             git fetch -p && git branch -vv | awk '/: gone]/{print $1}' | xargs git branch -D