diff --git a/.mokogitea/workflows/auto-release.yml b/.mokogitea/workflows/auto-release.yml
index a05d0f44d9..757bfb4369 100644
--- a/.mokogitea/workflows/auto-release.yml
+++ b/.mokogitea/workflows/auto-release.yml
@@ -298,7 +298,8 @@ jobs:
           git add -A
           git commit -m "chore(release): build ${VERSION} [skip ci]" \
             --author="gitea-actions[bot] <gitea-actions[bot]@mokoconsulting.tech>"
-          git push -u origin HEAD
+          # Detached HEAD on PR merge — push explicitly to main
+          git push origin HEAD:refs/heads/main
 
       # -- STEP 6: Create tag ---------------------------------------------------
       - name: "Step 6: Create git tag"
@@ -389,7 +390,7 @@ jobs:
             git add updates.xml
             git commit -m "chore: update stable channel ${VERSION} [skip ci]" \
               --author="gitea-actions[bot] <gitea-actions[bot]@mokoconsulting.tech>"
-            git push origin HEAD 2>&1 || true
+            git push origin HEAD:refs/heads/main 2>&1 || true
           fi
 
       # -- STEP 8b: Update release description with changelog ----------------------