diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-default.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-default.yml
index 722d62fe..1bf5a597 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-default.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-default.yml
@@ -56,16 +56,10 @@ jobs:
         id: kava-version
         run: |
           echo "KAVA_VERSION=$(cat ./ci/env/kava-internal-testnet/KAVA.VERSION)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-      - name: checkout repo from master
+      - name: checkout version of kava that will be deployed if this pr is merged
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
-          ref: master
-      - name: checkout version of kava that will be deployed if this pr is merged
-        run: |
-          git pull -p
-          git checkout $KAVA_VERSION
-        env:
-          KAVA_VERSION: ${{ steps.kava-version.outputs.KAVA_VERSION }}
+          ref: ${{ steps.kava-version.outputs.KAVA_VERSION }}
       - name: Set up Go
         uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with: