diff --git a/.github/actions/publish-live-update/action.yml b/.github/actions/publish-live-update/action.yml
index 32dae13..76b99ad 100644
--- a/.github/actions/publish-live-update/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/publish-live-update/action.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ inputs:
     description: Release version (with or without the leading v).
     required: true
   git-ref:
-    description: Git ref (commit SHA) recorded with the bundle.
+    description: >
+      Commit SHA recorded on the uploaded bundle as a custom property
+      (`commit=<sha>`). Not passed as Capawesome `--git-ref` (that requires
+      linking a git repository to the Cloud app via `apps:link`).
     required: false
     default: ${{ github.sha }}
   cli-version:
diff --git a/.github/actions/publish-live-update/publish-live-update.mjs b/.github/actions/publish-live-update/publish-live-update.mjs
index 67c7aee..fbc544b 100644
--- a/.github/actions/publish-live-update/publish-live-update.mjs
+++ b/.github/actions/publish-live-update/publish-live-update.mjs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export function channelCreateArgs({ cliVersion, appId, channel }) {
 }
 
 export function uploadArgs({ cliVersion, appId, channel, bundlePath, privateKeyPath, buildNumber, gitRef, version, rolloutPercentage }) {
-  return [
+  const args = [
     cli(cliVersion),
     'apps:liveupdates:upload',
     '--app-id',
@@ -58,14 +58,17 @@ export function uploadArgs({ cliVersion, appId, channel, bundlePath, privateKeyP
     String(buildNumber),
     '--ios-max',
     String(buildNumber),
-    '--git-ref',
-    gitRef,
     '--custom-property',
     `version=${version}`,
-    '--rollout-percentage',
-    String(rolloutPercentage),
-    '--yes',
   ];
+  // Capawesome `--git-ref` requires the Cloud app to have a linked git repository
+  // (`apps:link`). Local CI uploads do not need that — record the commit as a
+  // custom property instead so apps without a linked repo still publish.
+  if (gitRef) {
+    args.push('--custom-property', `commit=${gitRef}`);
+  }
+  args.push('--rollout-percentage', String(rolloutPercentage), '--yes');
+  return args;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -93,7 +96,6 @@ export function resolveOptions(args, env = {}) {
     channel: options.channel,
     'build-number': options.buildNumber,
     version: options.version,
-    'git-ref': options.gitRef,
     CAPAWESOME_TOKEN: options.token,
     CAPAWESOME_LIVE_UPDATE_PRIVATE_KEY: options.privateKey,
   };
diff --git a/.github/actions/publish-live-update/publish-live-update.spec.mjs b/.github/actions/publish-live-update/publish-live-update.spec.mjs
index b77b195..7dec30e 100644
--- a/.github/actions/publish-live-update/publish-live-update.spec.mjs
+++ b/.github/actions/publish-live-update/publish-live-update.spec.mjs
@@ -82,13 +82,32 @@ describe('command builders', () => {
     });
     expect(args).toContain('apps:liveupdates:upload');
     expect(args).toContain('--yes');
+    expect(args).not.toContain('--git-ref');
     for (const flag of ['--android-min', '--android-max', '--ios-min', '--ios-max']) {
       expect(args[args.indexOf(flag) + 1]).toBe('9000000');
     }
-    expect(args[args.indexOf('--custom-property') + 1]).toBe('version=9.0.0');
+    expect(args.filter((_, index) => args[index - 1] === '--custom-property')).toEqual([
+      'version=9.0.0',
+      'commit=deadbeef',
+    ]);
     expect(args[args.indexOf('--rollout-percentage') + 1]).toBe('100');
     expect(args[args.indexOf('--private-key') + 1]).toBe('private.pem');
   });
+
+  it('uploadArgs omits commit custom property when gitRef is empty', () => {
+    const args = uploadArgs({
+      cliVersion: '4.15.0',
+      appId: 'a',
+      channel: 'production-1',
+      bundlePath: 'bundle.zip',
+      privateKeyPath: 'private.pem',
+      buildNumber: '1',
+      gitRef: undefined,
+      version: '1.0.0',
+      rolloutPercentage: '100',
+    });
+    expect(args.filter((_, index) => args[index - 1] === '--custom-property')).toEqual(['version=1.0.0']);
+  });
 });
 
 describe('resolveOptions', () => {