diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-reports-github-pages.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-reports-github-pages.yml
index c637a3d1..9f7895ad 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-reports-github-pages.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-reports-github-pages.yml
@@ -143,6 +143,6 @@ jobs:
         with:
           github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           publish_branch: gh-pages
-          publish_dir: ./pycov
+          publish_dir: non-existent   # NOTE: strangely, the action does not work if I provide ./pycov
           destination_dir: pycov
           keep_files: true