diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index c3595e2deb..fa372c6540 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ variables:
 .get_target_source_refs: &get_target_source_refs
   - |
     if [ "$CI_PROJECT_PATH" = "fdroid/fdroiddata" ] && [ "$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH" = "$CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH" ]; then
-        export TARGET_REF="${CI_COMMIT_SHA}^"
+        export TARGET_REF="${CI_COMMIT_BEFORE_SHA}"
         export SOURCE_REF="${CI_COMMIT_SHA}"
     else
         git fetch https://gitlab.com/fdroid/fdroiddata.git $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH