diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync.yml b/.github/workflows/sync.yml
index 7061294783..8e253bb3eb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync.yml
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ jobs:
 
         run: |
           pushd nf-core/${{ matrix.pipeline }}
-          defaultBranch=$(grep -B5 -A5 "nextflowVersion" nextflow.config | grep "defaultBranch" | cut -d"=" -f2)
+          defaultBranch=$(grep -B5 -A5 "nextflowVersion" nextflow.config | grep "defaultBranch" | cut -d"=" -f2 | sed "s/'//g")
           if [ -z "$defaultBranch" ]; then
             defaultBranch="master"
           fi
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0e001fed6b..319969dea1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 - Parameters schema validation: allow oneOf, anyOf and allOf with `required` ([#3386](https://github.com/nf-core/tools/pull/3386))
 - Run pre-comit when rendering template for pipelines sync ([#3371](https://github.com/nf-core/tools/pull/3371))
+- Fix sync GHA by removing quotes from parsed branch name ([#3394](https://github.com/nf-core/tools/pull/3394))
 - manifest.author is not required anymore ([#3397](https://github.com/nf-core/tools/pull/3397))
 
 ### Version updates