diff --git a/docs/services/github.md b/docs/services/github.md
index b093219f..a3f89f8c 100644
--- a/docs/services/github.md
+++ b/docs/services/github.md
@@ -81,5 +81,6 @@ template.app-deployed: |
 **Notes**:
 - If the message is set to 140 characters or more, it will be truncated.
 - If `github.repoURLPath` and `github.revisionPath` are same as above, they can be omitted.
-- By default, github deployments utilize automerge to ensure the requested ref is up to date with the default branch.
+- Automerge is optional and `true` by default for github deployments to ensure the requested ref is up to date with the default branch.
   Setting this option to `false` is required if you would like to deploy older refs in your default branch.
+  For more information see the [Github Deployment API Docs](https://docs.github.com/en/rest/deployments/deployments?apiVersion=2022-11-28#create-a-deployment).
diff --git a/pkg/services/github.go b/pkg/services/github.go
index fdeb80b0..6cd3646f 100644
--- a/pkg/services/github.go
+++ b/pkg/services/github.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ type GitHubDeployment struct {
 	EnvironmentURL   string   `json:"environmentURL,omitempty"`
 	LogURL           string   `json:"logURL,omitempty"`
 	RequiredContexts []string `json:"requiredContexts"`
-	AutoMerge        bool     `json:"autoMerge,omitempty"`
+	AutoMerge        *bool    `json:"autoMerge,omitempty"`
 }
 
 const (
@@ -192,7 +192,12 @@ func (g *GitHubNotification) GetTemplater(name string, f texttemplate.FuncMap) (
 			}
 			notification.GitHub.Deployment.LogURL = logURLData.String()
 
-			notification.GitHub.Deployment.AutoMerge = g.Deployment.AutoMerge
+			if g.Deployment.AutoMerge == nil {
+				deploymentAutoMergeDefault := true
+				notification.GitHub.Deployment.AutoMerge = &deploymentAutoMergeDefault
+			} else {
+				notification.GitHub.Deployment.AutoMerge = g.Deployment.AutoMerge
+			}
 			notification.GitHub.Deployment.RequiredContexts = g.Deployment.RequiredContexts
 		}
 
@@ -305,7 +310,7 @@ func (g gitHubService) Send(notification Notification, _ Destination) error {
 				Ref:              &notification.GitHub.revision,
 				Environment:      &notification.GitHub.Deployment.Environment,
 				RequiredContexts: &notification.GitHub.Deployment.RequiredContexts,
-				AutoMerge:        &notification.GitHub.Deployment.AutoMerge,
+				AutoMerge:        notification.GitHub.Deployment.AutoMerge,
 			},
 		)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/services/github_test.go b/pkg/services/github_test.go
index 3091c839..52ddbb4a 100644
--- a/pkg/services/github_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/github_test.go
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ func TestGetTemplater_GitHub_Custom_Resource(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestGetTemplater_GitHub_Deployment(t *testing.T) {
+	f := false
 	n := Notification{
 		GitHub: &GitHubNotification{
 			RepoURLPath:  "{{.sync.spec.git.repo}}",
@@ -117,7 +118,7 @@ func TestGetTemplater_GitHub_Deployment(t *testing.T) {
 				EnvironmentURL:   "https://argoproj.github.io",
 				LogURL:           "https://argoproj.github.io/log",
 				RequiredContexts: []string{},
-				AutoMerge:        false,
+				AutoMerge:        &f,
 			},
 		},
 	}
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ func TestGetTemplater_GitHub_Deployment(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "https://argoproj.github.io", notification.GitHub.Deployment.EnvironmentURL)
 	assert.Equal(t, "https://argoproj.github.io/log", notification.GitHub.Deployment.LogURL)
 	assert.Len(t, notification.GitHub.Deployment.RequiredContexts, 0)
-	assert.Equal(t, false, notification.GitHub.Deployment.AutoMerge)
+	assert.Equal(t, &f, notification.GitHub.Deployment.AutoMerge)
 }
 
 func TestNewGitHubService_GitHubOptions(t *testing.T) {