diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index ce2bfdf6..b8401089 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ workflows:
           filters:
             branches:
               only:
-                - master
+                - valgrind-merge
     jobs:
       - valgrind-test
 
@@ -155,6 +155,6 @@ workflows:
           filters:
             branches:
               only:
-                - master
+                - valgrind-merge
     jobs:
       - finalize-valgrind-test
diff --git a/azure/create-cluster.sh b/azure/create-cluster.sh
index d9d93721..ea6d9410 100755
--- a/azure/create-cluster.sh
+++ b/azure/create-cluster.sh
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ echo "waiting a long time to create cluster, this might take up to 30 mins depen
 # store the branch name in a file so that target user can read it. Target user cannot see the envionment variables because
 # we use login option in su and -p(preserving environment variables) cannot be used with login. We need to use login option
 # so that $HOME, $PATH are set to the target users $HOME and $PATH.
-export BRANCH=${CIRCLE_BRANCH:=master}
+export BRANCH="valgrind-merge"
 
 # below is the default create cluster command
 CREATE_CLUSTER_COMMAND=(az group deployment create -g ${rg} --template-file azuredeploy.json --parameters @azuredeploy.parameters.json --parameters sshPublicKey="${public_key}" branchName="$BRANCH")