diff --git a/.github/workflows/formal.yml b/.github/workflows/formal.yml
index 7a7a6b0aa1..25609174e8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/formal.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/formal.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v2
         with:
+          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
           fetch-depth: 0
 
       - name: Determine branch name
@@ -23,9 +24,6 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Test formalities
         run: |
-          # remove GitHubs merge commit
-          git rebase "origin/$BRANCH"
-
           source .github/workflows/ci_helpers.sh
 
           RET=0