diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index d7f3a70a0..e6a73b19e 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # usethis (development version)
 
+* The URLs baked into the badge generated by `use_coverage(type = "codecov")`
+  no longer specify a branch (#2008).
+
 * The `ui_*()` functions have been marked as
   [superseded](https://lifecycle.r-lib.org/articles/stages.html#superseded).
   External users of these functions are encouraged to use the
diff --git a/R/coverage.R b/R/coverage.R
index dc9dd5f2a..2406cd8bd 100644
--- a/R/coverage.R
+++ b/R/coverage.R
@@ -44,9 +44,8 @@ use_covr_ignore <- function(files) {
 }
 
 use_codecov_badge <- function(repo_spec) {
-  default_branch <- git_default_branch()
-  url <- glue("https://app.codecov.io/gh/{repo_spec}?branch={default_branch}")
-  img <- glue("https://codecov.io/gh/{repo_spec}/branch/{default_branch}/graph/badge.svg")
+  url <- glue("https://codecov.io/gh/{repo_spec}")
+  img <- glue("https://codecov.io/gh/{repo_spec}/graph/badge.svg")
   use_badge("Codecov test coverage", url, img)
 }
 
diff --git a/README.Rmd b/README.Rmd
index 0fbb3d006..ed3b4ac0a 100644
--- a/README.Rmd
+++ b/README.Rmd
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ knitr::opts_chunk$set(
 
 <!-- badges: start -->
 [![R-CMD-check](https://github.com/r-lib/usethis/actions/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/r-lib/usethis/actions/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml)
-[![Codecov test coverage](https://codecov.io/gh/r-lib/usethis/branch/main/graph/badge.svg)](https://app.codecov.io/gh/r-lib/usethis?branch=main)
 [![CRAN status](https://www.r-pkg.org/badges/version/usethis)](https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=usethis)
 [![Lifecycle: stable](https://img.shields.io/badge/lifecycle-stable-brightgreen.svg)](https://lifecycle.r-lib.org/articles/stages.html#stable)
 [![.github/workflows/R-CMD-check](https://github.com/r-lib/usethis/actions/workflows/.github/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/r-lib/usethis/actions/workflows/.github/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml)
+[![Codecov test coverage](https://codecov.io/gh/r-lib/usethis/graph/badge.svg)](https://codecov.io/gh/r-lib/usethis)
 <!-- badges: end -->
 
 usethis is a workflow package: it automates repetitive tasks that arise during project setup and development, both for R packages and non-package projects.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a68a2b255..b865cb055 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
 <!-- badges: start -->
 
 [![R-CMD-check](https://github.com/r-lib/usethis/actions/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/r-lib/usethis/actions/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml)
-[![Codecov test
-coverage](https://codecov.io/gh/r-lib/usethis/branch/main/graph/badge.svg)](https://app.codecov.io/gh/r-lib/usethis?branch=main)
 [![CRAN
 status](https://www.r-pkg.org/badges/version/usethis)](https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=usethis)
 [![Lifecycle:
 stable](https://img.shields.io/badge/lifecycle-stable-brightgreen.svg)](https://lifecycle.r-lib.org/articles/stages.html#stable)
 [![.github/workflows/R-CMD-check](https://github.com/r-lib/usethis/actions/workflows/.github/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/r-lib/usethis/actions/workflows/.github/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml)
+[![Codecov test
+coverage](https://codecov.io/gh/r-lib/usethis/graph/badge.svg)](https://codecov.io/gh/r-lib/usethis)
 <!-- badges: end -->
 
 usethis is a workflow package: it automates repetitive tasks that arise
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/coverage.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/coverage.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c849622be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/coverage.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# we use specific URLs in a codecov badge
+
+    Code
+      use_codecov_badge("OWNER/REPO")
+    Message
+      ! Can't find a README for the current project.
+      i See `usethis::use_readme_rmd()` for help creating this file.
+      i Badge link will only be printed to screen.
+      [ ] Copy and paste the following lines into 'README':
+        <!-- badges: start -->
+        [![Codecov test coverage](https://codecov.io/gh/OWNER/REPO/graph/badge.svg)](https://codecov.io/gh/OWNER/REPO)
+        <!-- badges: end -->
+
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-coverage.R b/tests/testthat/test-coverage.R
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..954938c49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-coverage.R
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+test_that("we use specific URLs in a codecov badge", {
+  create_local_package()
+  withr::local_options(usethis.quiet = FALSE)
+  expect_snapshot(use_codecov_badge("OWNER/REPO"))
+})