diff --git a/.github/workflows/backport.yml b/.github/workflows/backport.yml
index ef3e0e3f..f5da1654 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/backport.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/backport.yml
@@ -33,5 +33,5 @@ jobs:
           copy_labels_pattern: true
           copy_requested_reviewers: true
           label_pattern: to-be-backported
-          target_branches: ${{ fromJSON(env.OLD_BRANCH) }}
+          target_branches: ${{ env.OLD_BRANCH }}
           conflict_resolution: draft_commit_conflicts
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-wheel.yml b/.github/workflows/test-wheel.yml
index a021ff34..d1454d32 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-wheel.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-wheel.yml
@@ -111,6 +111,10 @@ jobs:
           OLD_BRANCH=$(cat .github/BACKPORT_BRANCH)
           OLD_BASENAME="cuda-bindings-python${PYTHON_VERSION_FORMATTED}-cuda*-${{ inputs.host-platform }}*"
           LATEST_PRIOR_RUN_ID=$(gh run list -b ${OLD_BRANCH} -L 1 -w "CI: Build and test" -s completed -R NVIDIA/cuda-python --json databaseId | jq '.[]| .databaseId')
+          if [[ "$LATEST_PRIOR_RUN_ID" == "" ]]; then
+            echo "LATEST_PRIOR_RUN_ID not found!"
+            exit 1
+          fi
           gh run download $LATEST_PRIOR_RUN_ID -p ${OLD_BASENAME} -R NVIDIA/cuda-python
           ls -al $OLD_BASENAME
           mkdir -p "${{ env.CUDA_BINDINGS_ARTIFACTS_DIR }}"