diff --git a/lib/platform/github/index.js b/lib/platform/github/index.js
index 139cf92a98fb494d25b9399a0d17f3e7a778fc04..64aae93075bb52ed5c6acb0fe0e18a1f41862447 100644
--- a/lib/platform/github/index.js
+++ b/lib/platform/github/index.js
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ async function initRepo({
           {
             body: {
               sha: parentSha,
+              force: true,
             },
             token: forkToken || opts.token,
           }
@@ -291,6 +292,7 @@ async function initRepo({
         {
           body: {
             sha: parentSha,
+            force: true,
           },
         }
       );