diff --git a/github/resource_github_branch_default.go b/github/resource_github_branch_default.go
index d5f5704a6d..769da28e33 100644
--- a/github/resource_github_branch_default.go
+++ b/github/resource_github_branch_default.go
@@ -50,8 +50,7 @@ func resourceGithubBranchDefault() *schema.Resource {
 	}
 }
 
-func resourceGithubBranchDefaultCreate(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) error {
-
+func resourceGithubBranchDefaultCreate(d *schema.ResourceData, meta any) error {
 	client := meta.(*Owner).v3client
 	owner := meta.(*Owner).name
 	repoName := d.Get("repository").(string)
@@ -60,21 +59,24 @@ func resourceGithubBranchDefaultCreate(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{})
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
-	if rename {
-		repository, _, err := client.Repositories.Get(ctx, owner, repoName)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		if _, _, err := client.Repositories.RenameBranch(ctx, owner, repoName, *repository.DefaultBranch, defaultBranch); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	} else {
-		repository := &github.Repository{
-			DefaultBranch: &defaultBranch,
-		}
+	repository, _, err := client.Repositories.Get(ctx, owner, repoName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
-		if _, _, err := client.Repositories.Edit(ctx, owner, repoName, repository); err != nil {
-			return err
+	if *repository.DefaultBranch != defaultBranch {
+		if rename {
+			if _, _, err := client.Repositories.RenameBranch(ctx, owner, repoName, *repository.DefaultBranch, defaultBranch); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		} else {
+			repository := &github.Repository{
+				DefaultBranch: &defaultBranch,
+			}
+
+			if _, _, err := client.Repositories.Edit(ctx, owner, repoName, repository); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -83,8 +85,7 @@ func resourceGithubBranchDefaultCreate(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{})
 	return resourceGithubBranchDefaultRead(d, meta)
 }
 
-func resourceGithubBranchDefaultRead(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) error {
-
+func resourceGithubBranchDefaultRead(d *schema.ResourceData, meta any) error {
 	client := meta.(*Owner).v3client
 	owner := meta.(*Owner).name
 	repoName := d.Id()
@@ -121,8 +122,7 @@ func resourceGithubBranchDefaultRead(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) e
 	return nil
 }
 
-func resourceGithubBranchDefaultDelete(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) error {
-
+func resourceGithubBranchDefaultDelete(d *schema.ResourceData, meta any) error {
 	client := meta.(*Owner).v3client
 	owner := meta.(*Owner).name
 	repoName := d.Id()
@@ -137,8 +137,7 @@ func resourceGithubBranchDefaultDelete(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{})
 	return err
 }
 
-func resourceGithubBranchDefaultUpdate(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) error {
-
+func resourceGithubBranchDefaultUpdate(d *schema.ResourceData, meta any) error {
 	client := meta.(*Owner).v3client
 	owner := meta.(*Owner).name
 	repoName := d.Id()
diff --git a/github/resource_github_branch_default_test.go b/github/resource_github_branch_default_test.go
index 65c83e1bda..371c65327e 100644
--- a/github/resource_github_branch_default_test.go
+++ b/github/resource_github_branch_default_test.go
@@ -9,11 +9,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestAccGithubBranchDefault(t *testing.T) {
-
 	randomID := acctest.RandStringFromCharSet(5, acctest.CharSetAlphaNum)
 
 	t.Run("creates and manages branch defaults", func(t *testing.T) {
-
 		config := fmt.Sprintf(`
 
 			resource "github_repository" "test" {
@@ -62,22 +60,20 @@ func TestAccGithubBranchDefault(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run("with an organization account", func(t *testing.T) {
 			testCase(t, organization)
 		})
-
 	})
 
 	t.Run("replaces the default_branch of a repository", func(t *testing.T) {
-
 		config := fmt.Sprintf(`
 			resource "github_repository" "test" {
 				name      = "tf-acc-test-%s"
 				auto_init = true
 			}
-			
+
 			resource "github_branch" "test" {
 				repository = github_repository.test.name
 				branch     = "test"
 			}
-			  
+
 			resource "github_branch_default" "test"{
 				repository = github_repository.test.name
 				branch     = github_branch.test.branch
@@ -116,17 +112,67 @@ func TestAccGithubBranchDefault(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run("with an organization account", func(t *testing.T) {
 			testCase(t, organization)
 		})
+	})
+
+	t.Run("creates and manages branch defaults even if rename is set", func(t *testing.T) {
+		config := fmt.Sprintf(`
+
+			resource "github_repository" "test" {
+				name      = "tf-acc-test-%s"
+				auto_init = true
+			}
+
+			resource "github_branch_default" "test" {
+				repository     = github_repository.test.name
+				branch         = "main"
+				rename         = true
+			}
+		`, randomID)
+
+		check := resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
+			resource.TestCheckResourceAttr(
+				"github_branch_default.test", "branch",
+				"main",
+			),
+			resource.TestCheckResourceAttr(
+				"github_branch_default.test", "repository",
+				fmt.Sprintf("tf-acc-test-%s", randomID),
+			),
+		)
+
+		testCase := func(t *testing.T, mode string) {
+			resource.Test(t, resource.TestCase{
+				PreCheck:  func() { skipUnlessMode(t, mode) },
+				Providers: testAccProviders,
+				Steps: []resource.TestStep{
+					{
+						Config: config,
+						Check:  check,
+					},
+				},
+			})
+		}
+
+		t.Run("with an anonymous account", func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Skip("anonymous account not supported for this operation")
+		})
+
+		t.Run("with an individual account", func(t *testing.T) {
+			testCase(t, individual)
+		})
 
+		t.Run("with an organization account", func(t *testing.T) {
+			testCase(t, organization)
+		})
 	})
 
 	t.Run("replaces the default_branch of a repository without creating a branch resource prior to", func(t *testing.T) {
-
 		config := fmt.Sprintf(`
 			resource "github_repository" "test" {
 				name      = "tf-acc-test-%s"
 				auto_init = true
 			}
-			
+
 			resource "github_branch_default" "test"{
 				repository = github_repository.test.name
 				branch     = "development"
@@ -166,6 +212,5 @@ func TestAccGithubBranchDefault(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run("with an organization account", func(t *testing.T) {
 			testCase(t, organization)
 		})
-
 	})
 }