- uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    fetch-depth: 0          # ❌ checks out deleted PR source branch

- uses: stefanzweifel/git-auto-commit-action@v5
  with:
    commit_message: "docs: update contributors in README [skip ci]"
    file_pattern: "README.md"
                            # ❌ no branch specified → pushes to deleted ref


**After:**

- uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    ref: main               # ✅ always checks out main
    fetch-depth: 0

- uses: stefanzweifel/git-auto-commit-action@v5
  with:
    commit_message: "docs: update contributors in README [skip ci]"
    file_pattern: "README.md"
    branch: main            # ✅ always commits back to main


**Expected Flow After Fix :**

PR merged into main
  → pull_request: closed fires
  → checkout ref: main ✅
  → Node script updates README.md
  → git-auto-commit-action commits to branch: main ✅
  → README updated, no errors in Actions log ✅