diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 60d26dec..f9d10b99 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ version: 2
 updates:
   - package-ecosystem: "github-actions"
     directory: "/"
+    # Target `next`, not `main`. `main` only takes the weekly promotion PR and
+    # the Release PR (see RELEASE.md); dep updates batch on `next` and ship in
+    # the weekly release instead of cutting off-cycle releases.
+    target-branch: "next"
     schedule:
       interval: "weekly"
       day: "monday"
@@ -15,6 +19,7 @@ updates:
 
   - package-ecosystem: "npm"
     directory: "/"
+    target-branch: "next"
     schedule:
       interval: "weekly"
       day: "monday"