diff --git a/api/queries_branch_issue_reference.go b/api/queries_branch_issue_reference.go
index 0b60ff935..54a9144b0 100644
--- a/api/queries_branch_issue_reference.go
+++ b/api/queries_branch_issue_reference.go
@@ -140,9 +140,8 @@ func FindRepoBranchID(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface, ref string) (string
 	if branchID == "" {
 		if ref != "" {
 			return "", "", fmt.Errorf("could not find branch %q in %s", ref, ghrepo.FullName(repo))
-		} else {
-			branchID = query.Repository.DefaultBranchRef.Target.Oid
 		}
+		branchID = query.Repository.DefaultBranchRef.Target.Oid
 	}
 
 	return query.Repository.Id, branchID, nil