diff --git a/scripts/release/linux_x64/p2pool_linux_x64.sh b/scripts/release/linux_x64/p2pool_linux_x64.sh
index 44a2ab5..23dc3ad 100755
--- a/scripts/release/linux_x64/p2pool_linux_x64.sh
+++ b/scripts/release/linux_x64/p2pool_linux_x64.sh
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ if [ -z "$CHECKOUT_REF" ]; then
 	exit 1
 fi
 if ! git rev-parse --verify --quiet "$CHECKOUT_REF^{commit}" >/dev/null; then
-	echo "Requested ref '$CHECKOUT_REF' is not present in the build context."
-	exit 1
+	echo "Requested ref '$CHECKOUT_REF' is not present in the build context, falling back to HEAD."
+	CHECKOUT_REF=HEAD
 fi
 echo "Checking out ${CHECKOUT_REF} (version label $2)"
 git checkout --detach "$CHECKOUT_REF"