diff --git a/.asf.yaml b/.asf.yaml
index f2e519ce3f..814d2694fe 100644
--- a/.asf.yaml
+++ b/.asf.yaml
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ github:
         required_approving_review_count: 1
 
       required_linear_history: true
-  del_branch_on_merge: true
+  pull_requests:
+    # auto-delete head branches after being merged
+    del_branch_on_merge: true
   features:
     wiki: true
     issues: true