diff --git a/internal/source/gitea/gitea.go b/internal/source/gitea/gitea.go
index 1fb1dac..b39b4bb 100644
--- a/internal/source/gitea/gitea.go
+++ b/internal/source/gitea/gitea.go
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ func (g Gitea) fetchCheckout(ctx context.Context, repo *git.Repository, branch,
 
 	var headRef *plumbing.Reference
 
-	targetBranch, err := repo.Branch(branch)
+	targetBranch, err := repo.Branch(plumbing.NewBranchReferenceName(branch).String())
 	if err != nil {
 		g.logger.Error(ctx, "cant get repo branch", err)
 		return nil, nil, err