diff --git a/forgejo/build.sh b/forgejo/build.sh
index 540bdb6e..c544f5cd 100755
--- a/forgejo/build.sh
+++ b/forgejo/build.sh
@@ -15,5 +15,9 @@ git clone --depth 1 -b $branch $url $DIR/src
 cd $DIR/src
 export TAGS="bindata sqlite sqlite_unlock_notify"
 make deps-backend backend
-make VERSION=v$version GITEA_VERSION=v$version FORGEJO_VERSION=$semver generate forgejo
-mv forgejo $DIR/forgejo-$version
+#
+# use the gitea target here so that branches that do not contain the commit that adds
+# the `forgejo` target to the Makefile can build successfully
+#
+make VERSION=v$version GITEA_VERSION=v$version FORGEJO_VERSION=$semver generate gitea
+mv gitea $DIR/forgejo-$version