diff --git a/.github/workflows/CREATE_RELEASE_BRANCH.yml b/.github/workflows/CREATE_RELEASE_BRANCH.yml
index 4b95f9b5a9..57a1142ee1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/CREATE_RELEASE_BRANCH.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/CREATE_RELEASE_BRANCH.yml
@@ -33,27 +33,12 @@ jobs:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: '17'
 
-      - name: Configure git user
-        run: |
-          # https://github.com/actions/checkout/issues/13#issuecomment-724415212
-          git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
-          git config user.email "41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
-
-      - name: Create branch
-        id: create-branch
-        run: |
-          MINOR_VERSION=${RELEASE_VERSION%.*}
-          git checkout -b release/${MINOR_VERSION}
-          git push --set-upstream origin release/${MINOR_VERSION}
-          echo "branchName=release/${RELEASE_VERSION%.*}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-        env:
-          RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
-
       - name: Set snapshot version on release branch
+        id: set-snapshot-version
         run: |
           MINOR_VERSION=${RELEASE_VERSION%.*}
-          git checkout release/${MINOR_VERSION}
           mvn -B versions:set -DnewVersion=${RELEASE_VERSION}-SNAPSHOT -DgenerateBackupPoms=false -f parent
+          echo "branchName=release/${RELEASE_VERSION%.*}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
         env:
           RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
 
@@ -61,7 +46,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v5
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-          branch: ${{ steps.create-branch.outputs.branchName }}
+          branch: ${{ steps.set-snapshot-version.outputs.branchName }}
           commit-message: "ci: set next snapshot version"
           committer: github-actions[bot] <41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>
           base: main