diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3babc92ac739252b94f05a2190e65b824096c07e..f19ec5f7111b21da430d950944fd8eba4d5b341d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ As specified in the previous chapter, these variables are only used to generated
 | `changelog-title` / `SEMREL_CHANGELOG_TITLE`           | [changelogTitle @semantic-release/changelog option](https://github.com/semantic-release/changelog#options). You might want to use markdown format (for example `# MyApp Changelog`).                                                | _none_                                                                                                                                |
 | `dry-run` / `SEMREL_DRY_RUN`                           | Activate the [dryRun semantic-release option](https://github.com/semantic-release/semantic-release/blob/master/docs/usage/configuration.md#dryrun) if present.                                                                      | _none_                                                                                                                                |
 | `auto-release-enabled` / `SEMREL_AUTO_RELEASE_ENABLED` | When set to `true` the job start automatically. When not set (default), the job is manual.                                                                                                                                          | _none_                                                                                                                                |
-| `branches-ref` / `SEMREL_BRANCHES_REF`                 | Regular expression pattern matching branches from which releases should happen (should match your [semantic-release configuration](https://semantic-release.gitbook.io/semantic-release/usage/configuration#branches))              | `$PROD_REF` ([global _to be continuous_ variable](https://to-be-continuous.gitlab.io/doc/usage/#production-and-integration-branches)) |
+| `branches-ref` / `SEMREL_BRANCHES_REF`                 | Regular expression pattern matching branches from which releases should happen (should match your [semantic-release configuration](https://semantic-release.gitbook.io/semantic-release/usage/configuration#branches))              | `/^(master|main)$/` |
 | `tag-format` / `SEMREL_TAG_FORMAT`                     | [tagFormat semantic-release option](https://github.com/semantic-release/semantic-release/blob/master/docs/usage/configuration.md#tagformat). :warning: don't forget to double the `$` character so it is not interpreted by GitLab. | `$${version}`                                                                                                                         |
 | `hooks-dir` / `SEMREL_HOOKS_DIR`                       | [Hook scripts](#hook_scripts) folder.                                                                                                                                                                                               | `.`                                                                                                                                   |
 | `commit-message` / `SEMREL_COMMIT_MESSAGE`             | Add a custom commit message based on [semantic-release/git option](https://github.com/semantic-release/git#message).                                                                                                                | _none_ (uses semantic-release default commit message)                                                                                 |
diff --git a/kicker.json b/kicker.json
index b5f358326ab6cc5388ca8f765fd8f28ca120ba40..ade2ed373106d43273c5cde2685161009689255a 100644
--- a/kicker.json
+++ b/kicker.json
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
         {
           "name": "SEMREL_BRANCHES_REF",
           "description": "Regular expression pattern matching branches from which releases should happen (should match your [semantic-release configuration](https://semantic-release.gitbook.io/semantic-release/usage/configuration#branches))",
-          "default": "$PROD_REF",
+          "default": "/^(master|main)$/",
           "advanced": true
         },
         {
diff --git a/templates/gitlab-ci-semrel.yml b/templates/gitlab-ci-semrel.yml
index 7cbb0e81c89f18bdbd1d7fe6564ddd6f73311d2e..d581144d1d493d93c617a5b04ee2525a43d80181 100644
--- a/templates/gitlab-ci-semrel.yml
+++ b/templates/gitlab-ci-semrel.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ spec:
       default: latest
     branches-ref:
       description: Regular expression pattern matching branches from which releases should happen (should match your [semantic-release configuration](https://semantic-release.gitbook.io/semantic-release/usage/configuration#branches))
-      default: $PROD_REF
+      default: /^(master|main)$/
     exec-version:
       description: The [@semantic-release/exec](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@semantic-release/exec) version to use
       default: latest