diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_linux.yaml b/.github/workflows/build_linux.yaml
index 0fb3daa616..687bc37fe1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_linux.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_linux.yaml
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@
 on:
     workflow_call:
         inputs:
+            ref:
+                type: string
+                required: false
+                description: "The git ref to checkout, defaults to the default branch"
             arch:
                 type: string
                 required: true
@@ -76,6 +80,9 @@ jobs:
                       }
 
             - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5
+              with:
+                  repository: element-hq/element-desktop
+                  ref: ${{ inputs.ref }}
 
             - uses: actions/download-artifact@634f93cb2916e3fdff6788551b99b062d0335ce0 # v5
               with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_macos.yaml b/.github/workflows/build_macos.yaml
index ac8972ad21..962f416f6c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_macos.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_macos.yaml
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ on:
             APPLE_CSC_LINK:
                 required: false
         inputs:
+            ref:
+                type: string
+                required: false
+                description: "The git ref to checkout, defaults to the default branch"
             version:
                 type: string
                 required: false
@@ -52,6 +56,9 @@ jobs:
         environment: ${{ inputs.sign && 'packages.element.io' || '' }}
         steps:
             - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5
+              with:
+                  repository: element-hq/element-desktop
+                  ref: ${{ inputs.ref }}
 
             - uses: actions/download-artifact@634f93cb2916e3fdff6788551b99b062d0335ce0 # v5
               with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_windows.yaml b/.github/workflows/build_windows.yaml
index 7b0e937721..85fbfa01f0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_windows.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_windows.yaml
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ on:
             ESIGNER_USER_TOTP:
                 required: false
         inputs:
+            ref:
+                type: string
+                required: false
+                description: "The git ref to checkout, defaults to the default branch"
             arch:
                 type: string
                 required: true
@@ -81,6 +85,9 @@ jobs:
                       }
 
             - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5
+              with:
+                  repository: element-hq/element-desktop
+                  ref: ${{ inputs.ref }}
 
             - uses: actions/download-artifact@634f93cb2916e3fdff6788551b99b062d0335ce0 # v5
               with: