diff --git a/semaphoreci/semaphore-runner.sh b/semaphoreci/semaphore-runner.sh
index 177fe77cda..04f6ee2605 100755
--- a/semaphoreci/semaphore-runner.sh
+++ b/semaphoreci/semaphore-runner.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ set -eux
 # default to Debian testing
 DISTRO=${DISTRO:-debian}
 RELEASE=${RELEASE:-buster}
-BRANCH=${BRANCH:-debian/master}
+BRANCH=${BRANCH:-upstream-ci}
 ARCH=${ARCH:-amd64}
 CONTAINER=${RELEASE}-${ARCH}
 CACHE_DIR=${SEMAPHORE_CACHE_DIR:=/tmp}