diff --git a/.github/workflows/derecho.yaml b/.github/workflows/derecho.yaml
index fbca8d993..f5f094137 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/derecho.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/derecho.yaml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ jobs:
   setup:
     if: ${{ github.event.label.name == 'run-pr-tests' }}
     runs-on: hpc-runner
-
+   
     steps:
     - name: Checkout code
       uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ jobs:
       CIME_MODEL: cesm
       CIME_DRIVER: nuopc
       GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-      
-    uses: ESCOMP/CESM/.github/workflows/reusable.yaml@${GITHUB_REF##*/}
+      BRANCH_NAME: ${{ github.head_ref || github.ref_name }}   
+    uses: ESCOMP/CESM/.github/workflows/reusable.yaml@${BRANCH_NAME}
     with:
       stage: ${{ matrix.compiler }}