diff --git a/gitea_repo_controller.sh b/gitea_repo_controller.sh
index 8e43ba3..e410e58 100644
--- a/gitea_repo_controller.sh
+++ b/gitea_repo_controller.sh
@@ -72,11 +72,8 @@ checkout_branch() {
     git pull "${AUTH_URL}" main
 
     echo "🌿 Checking out target branch: ${BRANCH_NAME}"
-    if git show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/heads/${BRANCH_NAME}"; then
-        git checkout "${BRANCH_NAME}"
-    else
-        git checkout -b "${BRANCH_NAME}" "origin/${BRANCH_NAME}"
-    fi
+    
+    git checkout "${BRANCH_NAME}"
 
     echo "⬆️ Rebasing '${BRANCH_NAME}' onto latest main..."
     git rebase main