diff --git a/scripts/ci/install-deps.sh b/scripts/ci/install-deps.sh
index 4843fc8879..5fddc09018 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/install-deps.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/install-deps.sh
@@ -9,20 +9,24 @@
 
 set -ex
 
-scripts/fetchdep.sh matrix-org matrix-js-sdk
+scripts/fetchdep.sh matrix-org matrix-js-sdk develop
 pushd matrix-js-sdk
 [ -n "$JS_SDK_GITHUB_BASE_REF" ] && git fetch --depth 1 origin $JS_SDK_GITHUB_BASE_REF && git checkout $JS_SDK_GITHUB_BASE_REF
 yarn link
 yarn install --frozen-lockfile $@
 popd
 
-scripts/fetchdep.sh matrix-org matrix-analytics-events main
-pushd matrix-analytics-events
-yarn link
-yarn install --frozen-lockfile $@
-yarn build:ts
-popd
+scripts/fetchdep.sh matrix-org matrix-analytics-events
+# We don't pass a default branch so cloning may fail when we are not in a PR
+# This is expected as this project does not share a release cycle but we still branch match it
+if [ -d matrix-analytics-events ]; then
+    pushd matrix-analytics-events
+    yarn link
+    yarn install --frozen-lockfile $@
+    yarn build:ts
+    popd
+fi
 
 yarn link matrix-js-sdk
-yarn link @matrix-org/analytics-events
+[ -d matrix-analytics-events ] && yarn link @matrix-org/analytics-events
 yarn install --frozen-lockfile $@
diff --git a/scripts/ci/layered.sh b/scripts/ci/layered.sh
index 55c7e25351..b55cb77647 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/layered.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/layered.sh
@@ -14,30 +14,33 @@ set -ex
 # for the primary repo (react-sdk in this case).
 
 # Set up the js-sdk first
-scripts/fetchdep.sh matrix-org matrix-js-sdk
+scripts/fetchdep.sh matrix-org matrix-js-sdk develop
 pushd matrix-js-sdk
 [ -n "$JS_SDK_GITHUB_BASE_REF" ] && git fetch --depth 1 origin $JS_SDK_GITHUB_BASE_REF && git checkout $JS_SDK_GITHUB_BASE_REF
 yarn link
 yarn install --frozen-lockfile
 popd
 
-# Also set up matrix-analytics-events so we get the latest from
-# the main branch or a branch with matching name
-scripts/fetchdep.sh matrix-org matrix-analytics-events main
-pushd matrix-analytics-events
-yarn link
-yarn install --frozen-lockfile
-yarn build:ts
-popd
+# Also set up matrix-analytics-events for branch with matching name
+scripts/fetchdep.sh matrix-org matrix-analytics-events
+# We don't pass a default branch so cloning may fail when we are not in a PR
+# This is expected as this project does not share a release cycle but we still branch match it
+if [ -d matrix-analytics-events ]; then
+    pushd matrix-analytics-events
+    yarn link
+    yarn install --frozen-lockfile
+    yarn build:ts
+    popd
+fi
 
 # Now set up the react-sdk
 yarn link matrix-js-sdk
-yarn link @matrix-org/analytics-events
+[ -d matrix-analytics-events ] && yarn link @matrix-org/analytics-events
 yarn link
 yarn install --frozen-lockfile
 
 # Finally, set up element-web
-scripts/fetchdep.sh vector-im element-web
+scripts/fetchdep.sh vector-im element-web develop
 pushd element-web
 yarn link matrix-js-sdk
 yarn link matrix-react-sdk
diff --git a/scripts/fetchdep.sh b/scripts/fetchdep.sh
index 3a8b9be4dd..0965e811ad 100755
--- a/scripts/fetchdep.sh
+++ b/scripts/fetchdep.sh
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ deforg="$1"
 defrepo="$2"
 defbranch="$3"
 
-[ -z "$defbranch" ] && defbranch="develop"
-
 rm -r "$defrepo" || true
 
 # figure out where to look for pull requests: