diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync.yml b/.github/workflows/sync.yml
index b45333114..ea2c6283d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync.yml
@@ -111,6 +111,8 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           git config --global user.email "core@nf-co.re"
           git config --global user.name "nf-core-bot"
+          setBranch=$(git config --global init.defaultBranch)
+          echo "set default branch: $setBranch" >> GITHUB_OUTPUT
           nf-core --log-file sync_log_${{ matrix.pipeline }}.txt \
             ${{ github.event.inputs.debug == 'true' && '--verbose' || '' }} \
             pipelines sync -d nf-core/${{ matrix.pipeline }} \