diff --git a/pkg/cmd/workflow/run/run.go b/pkg/cmd/workflow/run/run.go
index 3ba64ad4a..b7ab53098 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/workflow/run/run.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/workflow/run/run.go
@@ -262,15 +262,11 @@ func runRun(opts *RunOptions) error {
 
 	ref := opts.Ref
 
-	defaultBranch, err := api.RepoDefaultBranch(client, repo)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("unable to determine default branch for %s: %w", ghrepo.FullName(repo), err)
-	}
-
-	if ref != "" && ref != defaultBranch {
-		return fmt.Errorf("ref %s is not the default branch, and workflows must be on the default branch to be triggered by workflow_dispatch", ref)
-	} else {
-		ref = defaultBranch
+	if ref == "" {
+		ref, err = api.RepoDefaultBranch(client, repo)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("unable to determine default branch for %s: %w", ghrepo.FullName(repo), err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	states := []shared.WorkflowState{shared.Active}