diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 6fd1d1a2c8..fcfd138ff1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ jobs:
       enabled: ${{ steps.check-ref.outputs.enabled }}
     steps:
       - name: try to clone ci-config branch
-        continue-on-error: true
         run: |
           git -c protocol.version=2 clone \
             --no-tags \
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ jobs:
             https://github.com/${{ github.repository }} \
             config-repo &&
           cd config-repo &&
-          git checkout HEAD -- ci/config
+          git checkout HEAD -- ci/config || : ignore
       - id: check-ref
         name: check whether CI is enabled for ref
         run: |