diff --git a/lib/commands/register.js b/lib/commands/register.js
index 9c096a3b7..da9d0d2c4 100644
--- a/lib/commands/register.js
+++ b/lib/commands/register.js
@@ -4,16 +4,23 @@ var PackageRepository = require('../core/PackageRepository');
 var createError = require('../util/createError');
 var defaultConfig = require('../config');
 
-function register(logger, name, url, config) {
+function register(logger, name, source, config) {
     var repository;
     var registryClient;
     var force;
+    var url;
+    var githubSourceRegex = /^\w[\w-]+\/\w[\w-]+$/;
+    var getGithubUrl = function(source) {
+        return 'git@github.com:' + source + '.git';
+    };
 
     config = defaultConfig(config);
     force = config.force;
 
     name = (name || '').trim();
-    url = (url || '').trim();
+    source = (source || '').trim();
+
+    url = source.match(githubSourceRegex) ? getGithubUrl(source) : source;
 
     // Bypass any cache
     config.offline = false;
diff --git a/test/commands/register.js b/test/commands/register.js
index c677ed95d..3d3b2d3f8 100644
--- a/test/commands/register.js
+++ b/test/commands/register.js
@@ -86,6 +86,19 @@ describe('bower register', function () {
         });
     });
 
+    it('should call registry client with name and github source', function () {
+        mainPackage.prepare();
+
+        var register = registerFactory(mainPackage.path, mainPackage.meta());
+        return helpers.run(register, ['some-name', 'some-repo/package'])
+        .spread(function (result) {
+            expect(result).to.eql({
+                // Result from register action on stub
+                name: 'some-name', url: 'git@github.com:some-repo/package.git'
+            });
+        });
+    });
+
     it('should confirm in interactive mode', function () {
         mainPackage.prepare();