diff --git a/.github/workflows/run-simulators.yml b/.github/workflows/run-simulators.yml
index 77d5464a6..5cdae1b67 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/run-simulators.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/run-simulators.yml
@@ -88,11 +88,13 @@ jobs:
             HOSTNAME: ${{ secrets.SSH_HOST }}
             USER_NAME: ${{ secrets.SSH_USERNAME }}
             GH_ACCESS_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
-            GH_REF: ${{ github.ref }}
+            GH_WORKFLOW_REF: ${{ github.ref }}
           run: |
+            export GH_REF="$GH_WORKFLOW_REF"
+            echo "GH REF: $GH_REF"
             echo "$PRIVATE_KEY" > private_key && chmod 600 private_key
-            export GH_REF="$GH_REF"
             ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -o SendEnv=GH_REF -i private_key ${USER_NAME}@${HOSTNAME} '
+              echo "GH REF inside SSH: $GH_REF"
               cd /home/ubuntu/actions/ &&
               rm -rf Scenic &&
               git clone --branch $(basename "$GH_REF") --single-branch https://$GH_ACCESS_TOKEN@github.com/BerkeleyLearnVerify/Scenic.git &&