diff --git a/.github/workflows/unittests.yml b/.github/workflows/unittests.yml
index 9fffad0c2..44a1d89a6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unittests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unittests.yml
@@ -43,7 +43,10 @@ jobs:
         ls -la ./
     - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       with:
-        token: ${{ secrets.GMT_TOOLS_PAT || github.token}}
+        # This is a personal access token with access to the gmt_tools repo.
+        # It is stored as a repo secret in BFASST and a dependabot secret in BFASST
+        # (for PRs generated by dependabot).
+        token: ${{ secrets.GMT_TOOLS_PAT }}
         submodules: 'recursive'
     - uses: ./.github/actions/setup_env
       with: 
@@ -78,7 +81,10 @@ jobs:
 
     - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       with:
-        token: ${{ secrets.GMT_TOOLS_PAT || github.token}}
+        # This is a personal access token with access to the gmt_tools repo.
+        # It is stored as a repo secret in BFASST and a dependabot secret in BFASST
+        # (for PRs generated by dependabot).
+        token: ${{ secrets.GMT_TOOLS_PAT }}
         submodules: 'recursive'
     
     - uses: ./.github/actions/setup_env