diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-please.yml b/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
index b2c57d06..0de2a94f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ jobs:
           # `MY_RELEASE_PLEASE_TOKEN` (this secret name is not important).
           token: ${{ secrets.MY_RELEASE_PLEASE_TOKEN }}
           release-type: python
+          # The short ref name of the branch or tag that triggered
+          #  the workflow run. For example, `main` or `1.x`
+          target-branch: ${{ github.ref_name }}
 
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: tag major and minor versions