diff --git a/.github/workflows/debian.yml b/.github/workflows/debian.yml
index 2176d1b14..56119ec9c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/debian.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/debian.yml
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         cd pkg/debian/kernel
 
+        # setup git
+        git config --global user.email "surfacebot@users.noreply.github.com"
+        git config --global user.name "surfacebot"
+
         # get ubuntu mainline source
         # see https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline
         git clone "$MAINLINE_REPO" --branch "$MAINLINE_BRANCH/v$KERNEL_VERSION" --depth 1 linux
diff --git a/.github/workflows/debian_lts.yml b/.github/workflows/debian_lts.yml
index 4c26d87cb..7de5c53bf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/debian_lts.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/debian_lts.yml
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         cd pkg/debian/kernel-lts
 
+        # setup git
+        git config --global user.email "surfacebot@users.noreply.github.com"
+        git config --global user.name "surfacebot"
+
         # get ubuntu mainline source
         # see https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline
         git clone "$MAINLINE_REPO" --branch "$MAINLINE_BRANCH/v$KERNEL_VERSION" --depth 1 linux