diff --git a/playbooks/manual/epel-minor-release/branch-distgit-packages.yml b/playbooks/manual/epel-minor-release/branch-distgit-packages.yml
index 4d4525be7e..c3166d9d58 100644
--- a/playbooks/manual/epel-minor-release/branch-distgit-packages.yml
+++ b/playbooks/manual/epel-minor-release/branch-distgit-packages.yml
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@
 
     - name: Create new epel branch for the new release
       ansible.builtin.shell: |
-        if [ "$( git -C '{{ checkout_path }}/{{ item }}.git' rev-parse --verify epel{{ release }} 2> /dev/null)" != "$( git -C '{{ checkout_path }}/{{ item }}.git' rev-parse --verify {{ branch_from }} 2> /dev/null)" ]
+        if [ "$( git -C '{{ checkout_path }}/{{ item }}.git' rev-parse --verify epel{{ release }} 2> /dev/null)" == "" ]
         then
           git -C '{{ checkout_path }}/{{ item }}.git' branch epel{{ release }} {{ branch_from }}
         else