diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 5caa85bc..9ab2d907 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ${{ github.repository == 'commaai/opendbc' && 'namespace-profile-amd64-8x16' || 'ubuntu-latest' }}
     timeout-minutes: 20
     env:
-      GIT_REF: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref == 'refs/heads/${{ github.event.repository.default_branch }}' && github.event.before || 'origin/${{ github.event.repository.default_branch }}' }}
+      GIT_REF: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref == format('refs/heads/{0}', github.event.repository.default_branch) && github.event.before || format('origin/{0}', github.event.repository.default_branch) }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with: