diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 023e326d92125..58aa8ea045154 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -52,14 +52,15 @@ jobs:
           echo "JS_ENGINES = [NODE_JS]" >> $EM_CONFIG
           echo "final config:"
           cat $EM_CONFIG
-      - name: Check test expectations on main
+      - name: Check test expectations on target branch
+        if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
         run: |
-          git checkout origin/main
+          git checkout ${{ github.base_ref }}
           # Hack to honor changes to rebaseline_tests.py in the current PR
           git checkout - ./tools/maint/rebaseline_tests.py
           ./bootstrap
           if ! ./tools/maint/rebaseline_tests.py --check-only; then
-            echo "Test expectations are out-of-date on the main branch."
+            echo "Test expectations are out-of-date on the target branch."
             echo "You can run `./tools/maint/rebaseline_tests.py --new-branch`"
             echo "and use it to create a seperate PR."
             exit 1