diff --git a/.github/workflows/ubuntu-latest.yml b/.github/workflows/ubuntu-latest.yml
index 7aaa4355a..dfd3e733f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ubuntu-latest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ubuntu-latest.yml
@@ -34,10 +34,6 @@ jobs:
         with:
           submodules: recursive
           fetch-depth: 0
-          # Check out the source branch (not the merge SHA) so HEAD stays
-          # attached. GitHubTasksTest.GitHubRepositoryFromLocalDirectoryTest
-          # requires repository.Branch to be non-null. NOTE: this file is
-          # auto-generated by Fallout; next regen will overwrite. Track in #110.
           ref: ${{ github.head_ref }}
       - name: 'Cache: .fallout/temp, ~/.nuget/packages'
         uses: actions/cache@v4
diff --git a/build/Build.CI.GitHubActions.cs b/build/Build.CI.GitHubActions.cs
index a27ebb397..67ee7df96 100644
--- a/build/Build.CI.GitHubActions.cs
+++ b/build/Build.CI.GitHubActions.cs
@@ -27,11 +27,16 @@
     PublishArtifacts = false)]
 // pull_request only — same-repo branches would otherwise fire both push and
 // pull_request events on every push, double-running the validation.
+//
+// CheckoutRef = github.head_ref pins checkout to the PR source branch instead of the merge SHA,
+// keeping HEAD attached so GitHubTasksTest.GitHubRepositoryFromLocalDirectoryTest (which reads
+// .git/HEAD via GitRepository.FromLocalDirectory) resolves a non-null branch.
 [GitHubActions(
     "ubuntu-latest",
     GitHubActionsImage.UbuntuLatest,
     FetchDepth = 0,
     Submodules = GitHubActionsSubmodules.Recursive,
+    CheckoutRef = "${{ github.head_ref }}",
     OnPullRequestBranches = new[] { MainBranch },
     OnPullRequestExcludePaths = new[] { "docs/**", ".assets/**", "**/*.md" },
     InvokedTargets = new[] { nameof(ITest.Test), nameof(IPack.Pack) },
diff --git a/src/Fallout.Common/CI/GitHubActions/Configuration/GitHubActionsCheckoutStep.cs b/src/Fallout.Common/CI/GitHubActions/Configuration/GitHubActionsCheckoutStep.cs
index 67d95dfb1..78cea71ff 100644
--- a/src/Fallout.Common/CI/GitHubActions/Configuration/GitHubActionsCheckoutStep.cs
+++ b/src/Fallout.Common/CI/GitHubActions/Configuration/GitHubActionsCheckoutStep.cs
@@ -17,11 +17,21 @@ public class GitHubActionsCheckoutStep : GitHubActionsStep
     public bool? Progress { get; set; }
     public string Filter { get; set; }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The git ref to check out. When unset, actions/checkout picks the default for the event
+    /// (the merge SHA on pull_request triggers, which leaves HEAD detached). Set to
+    /// <c>${{ github.head_ref }}</c> on PR workflows that read <c>.git/HEAD</c> directly
+    /// (e.g. <see cref="Fallout.Common.Git.GitRepository.FromLocalDirectory"/>) so the branch
+    /// resolves correctly.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string Ref { get; set; }
+
     public override void Write(CustomFileWriter writer)
     {
         writer.WriteLine("- uses: actions/checkout@v6");
 
-        if (Submodules.HasValue || Lfs.HasValue || FetchDepth.HasValue || Progress.HasValue || !Filter.IsNullOrWhiteSpace())
+        if (Submodules.HasValue || Lfs.HasValue || FetchDepth.HasValue || Progress.HasValue ||
+            !Filter.IsNullOrWhiteSpace() || !Ref.IsNullOrWhiteSpace())
         {
             using (writer.Indent())
             {
@@ -38,6 +48,8 @@ public override void Write(CustomFileWriter writer)
                         writer.WriteLine($"progress: {Progress.ToString().ToLowerInvariant()}");
                     if (!Filter.IsNullOrWhiteSpace())
                         writer.WriteLine($"filter: {Filter}");
+                    if (!Ref.IsNullOrWhiteSpace())
+                        writer.WriteLine($"ref: {Ref}");
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/Fallout.Common/CI/GitHubActions/GitHubActionsAttribute.cs b/src/Fallout.Common/CI/GitHubActions/GitHubActionsAttribute.cs
index aac79378f..195ed005a 100644
--- a/src/Fallout.Common/CI/GitHubActions/GitHubActionsAttribute.cs
+++ b/src/Fallout.Common/CI/GitHubActions/GitHubActionsAttribute.cs
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ public class GitHubActionsAttribute : ConfigurationAttributeBase
     private uint? _fetchDepth;
     private bool? _progress;
     private string _filter;
+    private string _ref;
 
     public GitHubActionsAttribute(
         string name,
@@ -117,6 +118,17 @@ public string Filter
         get => throw new NotSupportedException();
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Forwarded to <c>actions/checkout</c>'s <c>ref</c> input. Set to
+    /// <c>${{ github.head_ref }}</c> on PR-triggered workflows that need <c>.git/HEAD</c>
+    /// to stay attached (e.g. ones that read the current branch via GitRepository).
+    /// </summary>
+    public string CheckoutRef
+    {
+        set => _ref = value;
+        get => throw new NotSupportedException();
+    }
+
     public override CustomFileWriter CreateWriter(StreamWriter streamWriter)
     {
         return new CustomFileWriter(streamWriter, indentationFactor: 2, commentPrefix: "#");
@@ -167,7 +179,8 @@ private IEnumerable<GitHubActionsStep> GetSteps(GitHubActionsImage image, IReadO
                          Lfs = _lfs,
                          FetchDepth = _fetchDepth,
                          Progress = _progress,
-                         Filter = _filter
+                         Filter = _filter,
+                         Ref = _ref
                      };
 
         if (CacheKeyFiles.Any())