diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-go.yml b/.github/workflows/test-go.yml
index 050cce1c4..a0a5633ff 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-go.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-go.yml
@@ -240,7 +240,9 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
           # On a release branch, add a flag to rerun failed tests
-          if [[ "${{ github.ref_name }}" = "release/*" ]]; then
+          # shellcheck disable=SC2193 # can get false positive for this comparision 
+          if [[  "${{ github.base_ref }}" == release/* ]] || [[  -z "${{ github.base_ref }}" && "${{ github.ref_name }}" == release/* ]]
+          then
            RERUN_FAILS="--rerun-fails"
           fi