diff --git a/.github/workflows/maintain_cache.yml b/.github/workflows/maintain_cache.yml
index 96c856624..0e82c6114 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/maintain_cache.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/maintain_cache.yml
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ jobs:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           FILE_TO_COMMIT: garak/resources/plugin_cache.json
           DESTINATION_BRANCH: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+          COMMIT_RESULT: ${{ endsWith(github.ref_name, '/main')}}
         run: |
           if [ -f $HOME/.cache/garak/resources/plugin_cache.json ]; then
             echo "File updated from user cache"
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ jobs:
           if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
             set -e
             echo "Plugin cache updates exist"
-            if [ ${{ endsWith(github.ref_name, '/main')}} ]; then
+            if [ "$COMMIT_RESULT" = true ]; then
               export MESSAGE="automatic $FILE_TO_COMMIT update"
               export SHA=$( git rev-parse $DESTINATION_BRANCH:$FILE_TO_COMMIT )
           cat <<- EOF > write_request.py