diff --git a/sleuthpr/services/branches.py b/sleuthpr/services/branches.py
index c5cd656..13d5f48 100644
--- a/sleuthpr/services/branches.py
+++ b/sleuthpr/services/branches.py
@@ -9,14 +9,17 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def update_sha(installation: Installation, repository: Repository, name: str, sha: str):
+def update_sha(installation: Installation, repository: Repository, name: str, sha: str) -> RepositoryBranch:
     existing = repository.branches.filter(name=name).first()
     if not existing:
-        RepositoryBranch.objects.create(repository=repository, name=name, head_sha=sha)
+        branch = RepositoryBranch.objects.create(repository=repository, name=name, head_sha=sha)
         dirty = True
     else:
         dirty = dirty_set_all(existing, dict(head_sha=sha))
         existing.save()
+        branch = existing
 
     if dirty:
         pull_requests.on_source_change(installation, repository, name, sha)
+
+    return branch
diff --git a/sleuthpr/variables.py b/sleuthpr/variables.py
index 0effd36..dc39336 100644
--- a/sleuthpr/variables.py
+++ b/sleuthpr/variables.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 from sleuthpr.models import PullRequest
 from sleuthpr.models import ReviewState
 from sleuthpr.models import TriState
+from sleuthpr.services import branches
 from sleuthpr.triggers import BASE_BRANCH_UPDATED
 from sleuthpr.triggers import PR_CLOSED
 from sleuthpr.triggers import PR_CREATED
@@ -163,6 +164,16 @@ def _is_base_branch_synchronized(pull_request: PullRequest):
     repo = pull_request.repository
 
     branch_head = repo.branches.filter(name=pull_request.base_branch_name).first()
+
+    if not branch_head:
+        # this doesn't exist because it is a github action and doesn't have the data loaded from the push
+        # event, so load it here
+        branch_head = branches.update_sha(
+            pull_request.repository.installation,
+            pull_request.repository,
+            pull_request.base_branch_name,
+            pull_request.base_sha,
+        )
     if branch_head:
         branch_head.refresh_from_db()
         logger.info(f"Branch {branch_head.name} and head {branch_head.head_sha} for pr {pull_request.remote_id}")