diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync.yml b/.github/workflows/sync.yml
index 216f10d..f17b22a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync.yml
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     permissions:
       contents: write
+    env:
+      GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_PAT }}
     if: github.repository == 'SolaceLabs/solace-ai-connector'
     steps:
       - run: gh repo sync SolaceDev/solace-ai-connector --source SolaceLabs/solace-ai-connector --branch ${{github.ref_name}}
-        env:
-          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_PAT }}