diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-cov.yml b/.github/workflows/test-cov.yml
index baa27f4..fb7f743 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-cov.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-cov.yml
@@ -15,11 +15,21 @@ jobs:
       id: branch-name
       uses: tj-actions/branch-names@v6
 
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+    - name: Checkout to specific branch
+      uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      id: specific-checkout
+      continue-on-error: true
       with:
         repository: biothings/biothings_explorer
         ref: ${{ steps.branch-name.outputs.current_branch }}
 
+    - name: Checkout to main if above failed
+      if: steps.specific-checkout.outcome == 'failure'
+      uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      with:
+        repository: biothings/biothings_explorer
+        ref: main
+
     - name: Use Node.js 18.x
       uses: actions/setup-node@v3
       with: