diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
index 35e9c7c6..f4329db4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ jobs:
         if: ${{ matrix.language == 'java' }}
         working-directory: rskj
         env:
-          CHECKOUT_REF: ${{ github.head_ref }}
+          CHECKOUT_REF: ${{ github.ref_name }}
         run: |
           git switch "$CHECKOUT_REF"