diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-backport-autotrigger.yml b/.github/workflows/pr-backport-autotrigger.yml
index 50b4c971859..b24eb8f0ff5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-backport-autotrigger.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-backport-autotrigger.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@ name: Backport on Merge
 
 on:
   pull_request:
-    types: [closed]
+    types: [closed]  # Later we check for merge so only PRs that go in can get backported
+
+permissions:
+  contents: write
 
 jobs:
   backport:
@@ -16,8 +19,9 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up Git
         run: |
-          git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
-          git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
+          git config --global user.name "github-actions[bot]"
+          git config --global user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
+          git remote set-url origin https://x-access-token:${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}@github.com/${{ github.repository }}.git
 
       - name: Check for Backport Checkbox
         id: checkbox-check