diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_and_deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/build_and_deploy.yml
index f082ff32d..878d35b94 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_and_deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_and_deploy.yml
@@ -117,4 +117,5 @@ jobs:
           publish_dir: ./html
           publish_branch: gh-pages
           destination_dir: ${{ github.event.inputs.target_directory || 'dev' }}
+          force_orphan: true
           cname: napari.org