diff --git a/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/pr/index.spec.ts b/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/pr/index.spec.ts
index 361a5fb7f0a601f2ef3fb07d3ed5e37eb090f974..d1b9ebcfd9ffa6f3607de2c57bbff5f75db84d34 100644
--- a/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/pr/index.spec.ts
+++ b/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/pr/index.spec.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
   partial,
   platform,
 } from '../../../../../test/util';
+import { logger } from '../../../../logger';
 import { PackageFile } from '../../../../manager/common';
 import { Pr } from '../../../../platform';
 import { BranchConfig } from '../../../common';
@@ -85,5 +86,34 @@ describe('workers/repository/onboarding/pr', () => {
       await ensureOnboardingPr(config, packageFiles, branches);
       expect(platform.createPr).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     });
+    it('dryrun of updates PR when modified', async () => {
+      config.dryRun = true;
+      config.baseBranch = 'some-branch';
+      platform.getBranchPr.mockResolvedValueOnce(
+        partial<Pr>({
+          title: 'Configure Renovate',
+          body: createPrBody,
+          isConflicted: true,
+        })
+      );
+      git.isBranchModified.mockResolvedValueOnce(true);
+      await ensureOnboardingPr(config, {}, branches);
+      expect(logger.info).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        'DRY-RUN: Would check branch renovate/configure'
+      );
+      expect(logger.info).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(
+        'DRY-RUN: Would update onboarding PR'
+      );
+    });
+    it('dryrun of creates PR', async () => {
+      config.dryRun = true;
+      await ensureOnboardingPr(config, packageFiles, branches);
+      expect(logger.info).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        'DRY-RUN: Would check branch renovate/configure'
+      );
+      expect(logger.info).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(
+        'DRY-RUN: Would create onboarding PR'
+      );
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/pr/index.ts b/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/pr/index.ts
index c5827181420ea21ab5b149eadf71cde2bae187f6..2ec8b74d47f8722d6363ebd0427281a912fb30fd 100644
--- a/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/pr/index.ts
+++ b/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/pr/index.ts
@@ -65,7 +65,9 @@ If you need any further assistance then you can also [request help here](${confi
     prBody = prBody.replace('{{PACKAGE FILES}}\n', '');
   }
   let configDesc = '';
-  if (await isBranchModified(config.onboardingBranch)) {
+  if (config.dryRun) {
+    logger.info(`DRY-RUN: Would check branch ${config.onboardingBranch}`);
+  } else if (await isBranchModified(config.onboardingBranch)) {
     configDesc = emojify(
       `### Configuration\n\n:abcd: Renovate has detected a custom config for this PR. Feel free to ask for [help](${config.productLinks.help}) if you have any doubts and would like it reviewed.\n\n`
     );
@@ -111,7 +113,6 @@ If you need any further assistance then you can also [request help here](${confi
       return;
     }
     // PR must need updating
-    // istanbul ignore if
     if (config.dryRun) {
       logger.info('DRY-RUN: Would update onboarding PR');
     } else {
@@ -127,7 +128,6 @@ If you need any further assistance then you can also [request help here](${confi
   logger.debug('Creating onboarding PR');
   const labels: string[] = [];
   try {
-    // istanbul ignore if
     if (config.dryRun) {
       logger.info('DRY-RUN: Would create onboarding PR');
     } else {