diff --git a/.github/workflows/external-contributors.yml b/.github/workflows/external-contributors.yml
index 08e06e9602ce..47ced97b15fb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/external-contributors.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/external-contributors.yml
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ jobs:
       && endsWith(github.event.pull_request.user.login, '[bot]') == false
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v7
+        with:
+          ref: develop
       - name: Set up Node
         uses: actions/setup-node@v6
         with: