diff --git a/api/queries_repo.go b/api/queries_repo.go
index c8ba31348..22d42cfbb 100644
--- a/api/queries_repo.go
+++ b/api/queries_repo.go
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ func GitHubRepo(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface) (*Repository, error) {
 			hasIssuesEnabled
 			description
 			viewerPermission
+			defaultBranchRef {
+				name
+			}
 		}
 	}`
 	variables := map[string]interface{}{
diff --git a/command/pr.go b/command/pr.go
index 3f78d2340..464894c22 100644
--- a/command/pr.go
+++ b/command/pr.go
@@ -526,7 +526,6 @@ func prMerge(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil
 		}
-
 	}
 
 	var action string
@@ -551,7 +550,7 @@ func prMerge(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	fmt.Fprintf(colorableOut(cmd), "%s %s pull request #%d\n", utils.Magenta("✔"), action, pr.Number)
 
 	if deleteBranch {
-		repo, err := convertRepoInterfaceToRepository(ctx, baseRepo)
+		repo, err := api.GitHubRepo(apiClient, baseRepo)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/command/root.go b/command/root.go
index 48c9b50ed..6233be957 100644
--- a/command/root.go
+++ b/command/root.go
@@ -249,30 +249,6 @@ func determineBaseRepo(apiClient *api.Client, cmd *cobra.Command, ctx context.Co
 	return baseRepo, nil
 }
 
-func convertRepoInterfaceToRepository(ctx context.Context, repo ghrepo.Interface) (*api.Repository, error) {
-	apiClient, err := apiClientForContext(ctx)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	remotes, err := ctx.Remotes()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	repoContext, err := context.ResolveRemotesToRepos(remotes, apiClient, "")
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	baseRepo, err := repoContext.BaseRepo()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return baseRepo, nil
-}
-
 func rootHelpFunc(command *cobra.Command, s []string) {
 	if command != RootCmd {
 		cobraDefaultHelpFunc(command, s)