diff --git a/eden/scm/edenscm/ext/github/__init__.py b/eden/scm/edenscm/ext/github/__init__.py
index eeea7c6b5a..001768647a 100644
--- a/eden/scm/edenscm/ext/github/__init__.py
+++ b/eden/scm/edenscm/ext/github/__init__.py
@@ -113,7 +113,17 @@ subcmd = pull_request_command.subcommand(
     ],
 )
 def submit_cmd(ui, repo, *args, **opts):
-    """create or update GitHub pull requests from local commits"""
+    """create or update GitHub pull requests from local commits
+
+    Commit(s) will be pushed to ``default-push``, if configured, else
+    ``default`` (see :prog:`help urls` and :prog:`help path`).
+
+    Pull request(s) will be created against ``default``. If
+    ``default`` is a fork, they will be created against default's
+    upstream repository.
+
+    Returns 0 on success.
+    """
     return submit.submit(ui, repo, *args, **opts)
 
 
diff --git a/eden/scm/edenscm/ext/github/submit.py b/eden/scm/edenscm/ext/github/submit.py
index 552d00a397..56531e2777 100644
--- a/eden/scm/edenscm/ext/github/submit.py
+++ b/eden/scm/edenscm/ext/github/submit.py
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ async def update_commits_in_stack(
     if not partitions:
         ui.status_err(_("no commits to submit\n"))
         return 0
-    origin = get_origin(ui)
+    origin = get_push_origin(ui)
     use_placeholder_strategy = ui.configbool("github", "placeholder-strategy")
     if use_placeholder_strategy:
         params = await create_placeholder_strategy_params(
@@ -612,12 +612,12 @@ async def get_repository_for_origin(origin: str, hostname: str) -> Repository:
     return await get_repo(hostname, origin_owner, origin_name)
 
 
-def get_origin(ui) -> str:
+def get_push_origin(ui) -> str:
     test_url = os.environ.get("SL_TEST_GH_URL")
     if test_url:
         origin = test_url
     else:
-        origin = ui.config("paths", "default")
+        origin = ui.expandpath("default-push", "default")
     if origin:
         return origin
     else: