diff --git a/salt/modules/genesis.py b/salt/modules/genesis.py
index 99d9bce62c..158051ddbc 100644
--- a/salt/modules/genesis.py
+++ b/salt/modules/genesis.py
@@ -32,8 +32,14 @@ def __virtual__():
     return True
 
 
-def bootstrap(platform, root, img_format='dir', fs_format='ext2', arch=None,
-              flavor=None, repo_url=None, static_qemu=None):
+def bootstrap(platform,
+              root,
+              img_format='dir',
+              fs_format='ext2',
+              arch=None,
+              flavor=None,
+              repo_url=None,
+              static_qemu=None):
     '''
     Create an image for a specific platform.
 
@@ -100,7 +106,7 @@ def bootstrap(platform, root, img_format='dir', fs_format='ext2', arch=None,
         return _bootstrap_yum(root)
     elif platform == 'deb':
         return _bootstrap_deb(
-            root, arch=arch, flavor=flavor, static_qemu=static_qemu
+            root, arch=arch, flavor=flavor, repo_url=repo_url, static_qemu=static_qemu
         )
     elif platform == 'pacman':
         return _bootstrap_pacman(root)
@@ -133,7 +139,7 @@ def _bootstrap_deb(
         root,
         arch,
         flavor,
-        repo_url='http://ftp.debian.org/debian/',
+        repo_url=None,
         static_qemu=None
     ):
     '''
@@ -158,6 +164,9 @@ def _bootstrap_deb(
         (e.x.: /usr/bin/qemu-amd64-static)
     '''
 
+    if repo_url is None:
+        repo_url = 'http://ftp.debian.org/debian/'
+
     __salt__['cmd.run'](
         'debootstrap --foreign --arch {arch} {flavor} {root} {url}'.format(
             arch=arch, flavor=flavor, root=root, url=repo_url