diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 45866c97..840e9bed 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -11,21 +11,21 @@ generate_readme_job:
         echo "Skipping job for automated commit."
         exit 0
       fi
+    - git config --global user.email "ci@gitlab.ms-ds.org"
+    - git config --global user.name "GitLab CI"
+    - git checkout main
+    - git status
     - python scripts/generate_readme.py
     - export NEEDS_UPDATE="false"
     - git diff --exit-code || export NEEDS_UPDATE="true"
-    - git config --global user.email "ci@gitlab.ms-ds.org"
-    - git config --global user.name "GitLab CI"
     - echo $NEEDS_UPDATE
     - |
       if [ $NEEDS_UPDATE = "true" ]; then
         git remote remove origin
         git remote add origin https://$CI_USER:$CI_TOKEN@gitlab.ms-ds.org/schmoekerei/schmoekerei-icons.git
-        git checkout -f main
-        python scripts/generate_readme.py
         git add README.md
         git commit -m "Auto-updated README"
-        git push origin main
+        git push origin HEAD:main
         fi
   only:
     - main