diff --git a/.github/workflows/commit_message_check.yml b/.github/workflows/commit_message_check.yml
index 3587bb0..2c57188 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/commit_message_check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/commit_message_check.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: check commit messages
       run: |
-        git log --format="%s" main..HEAD | while IFS= read -r message; do
+        git log --format="%s" origin/main..HEAD | while IFS= read -r message; do
           if ! [[ $commit_message =~ ^(vingo:|vinscant:|vinvoor:|zess:) ]]; then
             echo "Error: commit message should start with vingo:|vinscant:|vinvoor:|zess: depending on which subproject you are working on."
             exit 1