diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yaml b/.github/workflows/publish.yaml
index e20332f..c5d75e7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yaml
@@ -53,6 +53,18 @@ jobs:
     steps:
     - name: Checkout repository
       uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      with:
+        fetch-depth: 0
+
+    - name: Create helm-index branch if missing
+      run: |
+        if ! git rev-parse --verify remotes/origin/helm-index &>/dev/null; then
+          git switch --orphan helm-index
+          git config user.name "${{ vars.WORKFLOW_USER_NAME }}"
+          git config user.email "${{ vars.WORKFLOW_USER_EMAIL }}"
+          git commit --allow-empty -m "Initial commit"
+          git push --set-upstream origin helm-index
+        fi
 
     - name: Checkout repository
       uses: actions/checkout@v3
@@ -76,8 +88,8 @@ jobs:
         helm repo index --url ${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/releases/download/${{ github.event.release.tag_name }} --merge ./index/index.yaml .
         mv index.yaml index
         cd index
-        git config user.name github-actions
-        git config user.email github-actions@github.com
+        git config user.name "${{ vars.WORKFLOW_USER_NAME }}"
+        git config user.email "${{ vars.WORKFLOW_USER_EMAIL }}"
         git add index.yaml
         git commit -m "Release ${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}"
         git push