diff --git a/.github/scripts/goldenfile_checker.sh b/.github/scripts/goldenfile_checker.sh
index 128cd624df95..0fef83fa68f2 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/goldenfile_checker.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/goldenfile_checker.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ set -euo pipefail
 # check if there is a diff in the xds testdata directory after running `make envoy-regen`
 make envoy-regen
 
-echo "origin/$GIT_BRANCH_REF"
+echo "origin/$GITHUB_BRANCH_REF"
 echo "getting changed files"
 changed_xds_files=$(git --no-pager diff --name-only HEAD "$(git merge-base HEAD "origin/$GITHUB_BRANCH_REF")" | egrep "agent/xds/testdata/.*" || true)
 echo "got changed files"