diff --git a/.github/workflows/humble-debian-build.yml b/.github/workflows/humble-debian-build.yml
index e8deb2caa5..426b935fa4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/humble-debian-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/humble-debian-build.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           path: src/ros2_controllers
+          ref: ${{ github.event_name == 'schedule' && 'humble' || '' }}
       - name: Build and test
         shell: bash
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/humble-rhel-binary-build.yml b/.github/workflows/humble-rhel-binary-build.yml
index cd9b85b2e1..933486ba50 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/humble-rhel-binary-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/humble-rhel-binary-build.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           path: src/ros2_controllers
+          ref: ${{ github.event_name == 'schedule' && 'humble' || '' }}
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           rosdep update
diff --git a/.github/workflows/iron-debian-build.yml b/.github/workflows/iron-debian-build.yml
index 09dbd051b2..c47fbe5cd9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/iron-debian-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/iron-debian-build.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           path: src/ros2_controllers
+          ref: ${{ github.event_name == 'schedule' && 'iron' || '' }}
       - name: Build and test
         shell: bash
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/iron-rhel-binary-build.yml b/.github/workflows/iron-rhel-binary-build.yml
index 0eb28b9673..c3bc1e6def 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/iron-rhel-binary-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/iron-rhel-binary-build.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           path: src/ros2_controllers
+          ref: ${{ github.event_name == 'schedule' && 'iron' || '' }}
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           rosdep update
diff --git a/.github/workflows/rolling-debian-build.yml b/.github/workflows/rolling-debian-build.yml
index b6d0a4193a..9169494b00 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rolling-debian-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/rolling-debian-build.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           path: src/ros2_controllers
+          # default behavior is correct on master branch
+          # ref: ${{ github.event_name == 'schedule' && 'master' || '' }}
       - name: Build and test
         shell: bash
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/rolling-rhel-binary-build.yml b/.github/workflows/rolling-rhel-binary-build.yml
index dece43b673..98c02b72a3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rolling-rhel-binary-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/rolling-rhel-binary-build.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           path: src/ros2_controllers
+          # default behavior is correct on master branch
+          # ref: ${{ github.event_name == 'schedule' && 'master' || '' }}
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           rosdep update