diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/create_update_pr.yml b/.gitea/workflows/create_update_pr.yml
index b05543a..54edf91 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/create_update_pr.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/create_update_pr.yml
@@ -6,8 +6,11 @@ permissions:
   pull-requests: write
 
 jobs:
-  test:
+  create_update_branch_and_pr:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+      pull-requests: write
 
     steps:
       - name: Setup Python
@@ -17,16 +20,27 @@ jobs:
     
       - name: Install tools
         run: |
-          pip install copier
+          pip install copier PySide6
 
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
     
       - name: Perform update
         run: |
+          set -x
+          git config --global user.email "bec_ci_staging@psi.ch"
+          git config --global user.name "BEC automated CI"
           branch="chore/update-template-$(python -m uuid)"
+          echo "switching to branch $branch"
           git checkout -b $branch
-          msg = $(copier update --trust --defaults --conflict inline 2>&1 | sed -n 1p)
+          msg="$(copier update --trust --defaults --conflict inline 2>&1 | head -n 1)"
+
           git add -A
-          git diff-index --quiet HEAD || git commit -a -m $msg
+          CHANGES=$(git status --porcelain)
+          if [ -z "$CHANGES" ]; then
+            echo "No changes detected"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+          
+          git commit -a -m "$msg"
           git push -u origin $branch
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