diff --git a/cmd/pkgdashcli/main.go b/cmd/pkgdashcli/main.go
index 348b215..ae2cb2f 100644
--- a/cmd/pkgdashcli/main.go
+++ b/cmd/pkgdashcli/main.go
@@ -225,6 +225,8 @@ func giteaPullRequest(ctx context.Context, cfg *Config, branch string, mods map[
 		logger.Fatalf(ctx, "failed to get repo head: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	logger.Infof(ctx, "repo head %s", headRef)
+
 	wtree, err := repo.Worktree()
 	if err != nil {
 		logger.Fatalf(ctx, "failed to get worktree: %v", err)
@@ -281,10 +283,12 @@ func giteaPullRequest(ctx context.Context, cfg *Config, branch string, mods map[
 			logger.Fatalf(ctx, "failed to reset repo branch: %v", err)
 		}
 
-		logger.Infof(ctx, "checkout ref %s", headRef)
+		newbranch := fmt.Sprintf("pkgdash/go_modules/%s-%s", path, mod.Version)
+		logger.Infof(ctx, "checkout ref %s to %s", headRef)
 		if err = wtree.Checkout(&git.CheckoutOptions{
 			Hash:   headRef.Hash(),
-			Create: false,
+			Branch: newbranch,
+			Create: true,
 			Force:  true,
 		}); err != nil {
 			logger.Fatalf(ctx, "failed to get checkout tree: %v", err)
@@ -323,6 +327,7 @@ func giteaPullRequest(ctx context.Context, cfg *Config, branch string, mods map[
 
 		logger.Infof(ctx, "worktree commit")
 		commit, err := wtree.Commit(wTitle.String(), &git.CommitOptions{
+			Parents: []plumbing.Hash{headRef.Hash()},
 			Author: &object.Signature{
 				Name:  "gitea-actions",
 				Email: "info@unistack.org",