diff --git a/.gitlab-ci/checkout-mutter.sh b/.gitlab-ci/checkout-mutter.sh
index 618ad2582..9eb72ebfc 100755
--- a/.gitlab-ci/checkout-mutter.sh
+++ b/.gitlab-ci/checkout-mutter.sh
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ fi
 
 if [ -z "$mutter_target" ]; then
   mutter_target=$(git branch -r -l origin/$shell_branch)
+  mutter_target=${mutter_target:-$(git branch -r -l ${shell_branch#remotes/})}
   mutter_target=${mutter_target:-origin/master}
   echo Using $mutter_target instead
 fi