diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index a54a23c5ad43ef851afeea2e31351a00ec2cadcc..d81b6e4ad2475604755798318be85371cd21484a 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ variables:
   CPPLIB_REGISTRY_IMAGE: $CI_REGISTRY/caosdb/src/caosdb-cpplib/testenv:$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME
 
   CPPINTTEST_PIPELINE: https://gitlab.indiscale.com/api/v4/projects/111/trigger/pipeline
+  CPPINTTEST_BRANCHES: https://gitlab.indiscale.com/api/v4/projects/111/repository/branches
   GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: normal
 
   ## FOR DEBUGGING
@@ -101,8 +102,13 @@ trigger_inttest:
     # ... use an f-branch if posible...
     - F_BRANCH=dev
     - if echo "$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME" | grep -c "^f-" ; then
-        CPPINT_REF=$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME ;
-        F_BRANCH=$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME ;
+        if curl -o /dev/null -s -w "%{http_code}" $CPPINTTEST_BRANCHES/$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME | grep "404"; then
+          CPPINT_REF=dev ;
+          F_BRANCH=dev ;
+        else
+          CPPINT_REF=$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME ;
+          F_BRANCH=$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME ;
+        fi
       fi;
     # ... or use main if possible...
     - if [[ "$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME" == "main" ]] ; then