diff --git a/base.json b/base.json
index e613504..401559c 100644
--- a/base.json
+++ b/base.json
@@ -21,14 +21,16 @@
       "matchDatasources": ["github-releases"],
       "matchPackagePatterns": ["^thegeeklab/hugo-(geekdoc|geekblog)"],
       "matchUpdateTypes": ["minor", "patch"],
-      "automerge": true
+      "automerge": true,
+      "automergeType": "branch"
     },
     {
       "description": "Automerge hugo ci updates",
       "matchManagers": ["woodpecker"],
       "matchPackageNames": ["quay.io/thegeeklab/hugo"],
       "matchUpdateTypes": ["patch"],
-      "automerge": true
+      "automerge": true,
+      "automergeType": "branch"
     },
     {
       "description": "Automerge dev dependencies",
@@ -36,6 +38,7 @@
       "matchDepTypes": ["devDependencies", "dev-dependencies", "dev"],
       "matchUpdateTypes": ["pin", "digest", "patch", "minor"],
       "automerge": true,
+      "automergeType": "branch",
       "extends": ["schedule:weekly"]
     }
   ],
diff --git a/docker.json b/docker.json
index ac8bd79..2ddb719 100644
--- a/docker.json
+++ b/docker.json
@@ -19,10 +19,11 @@
         "^thegeeklab/(alpine|nginx)"
       ],
       "matchUpdateTypes": ["pin", "digest"],
-      "automerge": true
+      "automerge": true,
+      "automergeType": "branch"
     },
     {
-      "description": "Helper tools for docker base images",
+      "description": "Automerge helper tools for docker base images",
       "groupName": "docker helper tools",
       "matchDatasources": ["github-releases"],
       "matchManagers": ["dockerfile"],
diff --git a/golang.json b/golang.json
index c5c72f4..6404c29 100644
--- a/golang.json
+++ b/golang.json
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
       "matchPackageNames": ["mvdan/gofumpt", "golangci/golangci-lint"],
       "matchUpdateTypes": ["pin", "digest", "patch", "minor"],
       "automerge": true,
+      "automergeType": "branch",
       "extends": ["schedule:weekly"]
     },
     {