diff --git a/lib/workers/branch/index.spec.ts b/lib/workers/branch/index.spec.ts
index 73d68242507905..097e78b5490a7e 100644
--- a/lib/workers/branch/index.spec.ts
+++ b/lib/workers/branch/index.spec.ts
@@ -372,6 +372,7 @@ describe(getName(__filename), () => {
       await branchWorker.processBranch(config);
       expect(automerge.tryBranchAutomerge).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(prWorker.ensurePr).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(git.deleteBranch).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
     });
     it('returns if branch exists and prCreation set to approval', async () => {
       getUpdated.getUpdatedPackageFiles.mockResolvedValueOnce({
diff --git a/lib/workers/branch/index.ts b/lib/workers/branch/index.ts
index ae25f57494cff1..d5359e2028110a 100644
--- a/lib/workers/branch/index.ts
+++ b/lib/workers/branch/index.ts
@@ -372,7 +372,11 @@ export async function processBranch(
       const mergeStatus = await tryBranchAutomerge(config);
       logger.debug(`mergeStatus=${mergeStatus}`);
       if (mergeStatus === 'automerged') {
-        await deleteBranchSilently(config.branchName);
+        if (getAdminConfig().dryRun) {
+          logger.info('DRY-RUN: Would delete branch' + config.branchName);
+        } else {
+          await deleteBranchSilently(config.branchName);
+        }
         logger.debug('Branch is automerged - returning');
         return { branchExists: false, result: BranchResult.Automerged };
       }