diff --git a/.azure-pipelines/update-refdata.yml b/.azure-pipelines/update-refdata.yml
index 7c395b214e0..a9a4cf0af01 100644
--- a/.azure-pipelines/update-refdata.yml
+++ b/.azure-pipelines/update-refdata.yml
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ jobs:
       - bash: |
           cd $(refdata.dir)
           git remote add fork https://$(bot_token)@github.com/tardis-bot/tardis-refdata
-          git checkout -b pr-$(pr.number)
+          git checkout -B pr-$(pr.number)
         displayName: 'Set up new branch'
 
       - bash: |
@@ -49,11 +49,19 @@ jobs:
           git config --local user.email "tardis.sn.bot@gmail.com"
           git config --local user.name "tardis-bot"
           git commit -m "Automated Update (PR $(pr.number))"
-          git push fork pr-$(pr.number)
+          git push fork pr-$(pr.number) -f
         displayName: 'Commit new reference data'
 
       - bash: |
           cd $(refdata.dir)
-          echo "$(bot_token)" | gh auth login --with-token
-          gh pr create --repo tardis-sn/tardis-refdata --head tardis-bot:pr-$(pr.number) --title "Automated Update (PR $(pr.number))" --body "_Pull request automatically generated by [#$(pr.number)](https://github.com/tardis-sn/tardis/pull/$(pr.number))_"
+          STATE=$(gh pr list --repo tardis-sn/tardis-refdata -H pr-$(pr.number) --json state | jq -r .[].state)
+          if [[ -z "$STATE" ]]; then
+
+            echo "$(bot_token)" | gh auth login --with-token
+            gh pr create --repo tardis-sn/tardis-refdata --head tardis-bot:pr-$(pr.number) --title "Automated Update (PR $(pr.number))" --body "_Pull request automatically generated by [#$(pr.number)](https://github.com/tardis-sn/tardis/pull/$(pr.number))_"
+
+          else
+            exit 0
+
+          fi
         displayName: 'Propose changes via pull request'