diff --git a/.vsts.template.nonwindows.yml b/.vsts.template.nonwindows.yml
index 825f0e4fc0..648122fac4 100644
--- a/.vsts.template.nonwindows.yml
+++ b/.vsts.template.nonwindows.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ steps:
 - checkout: self
   clean: true
 
-- script: git checkout releases/$(version)
+- script: |
+    git config user.email "azure-pipelines-bot@microsoft.com"
+    git config user.name "azure-pipelines-bot"
+    git checkout -f origin/releases/$(version)
   displayName: Checkout release branch
   condition: ne(variables['version'], '')
 
diff --git a/.vsts.template.windows.yml b/.vsts.template.windows.yml
index 0b7db70ae0..31d38049c6 100644
--- a/.vsts.template.windows.yml
+++ b/.vsts.template.windows.yml
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ steps:
 - checkout: self
   clean: true
 
-- script: git checkout releases/$(version)
+- script: |
+    git config user.email "azure-pipelines-bot@microsoft.com"
+    git config user.name "azure-pipelines-bot"
+    git checkout -f origin/releases/$(version)
   displayName: Checkout release branch
   condition: ne(variables['version'], '')