diff --git a/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/actions/builtin/publish/github.ts b/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/actions/builtin/publish/github.ts
index e56c94a5b0..a3befa0dfe 100644
--- a/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/actions/builtin/publish/github.ts
+++ b/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/actions/builtin/publish/github.ts
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ export function createPublishGithubAction(options: {
           owner,
           client,
           repoName: newRepo.name,
+          logger: ctx.logger,
         });
       } catch (e) {
         throw new Error(
diff --git a/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/stages/publish/github.ts b/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/stages/publish/github.ts
index 2647284698..d859d97dc3 100644
--- a/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/stages/publish/github.ts
+++ b/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/stages/publish/github.ts
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ export class GithubPublisher implements PublisherBase {
         owner,
         client,
         repoName: name,
+        logger,
       });
     } catch (e) {
       throw new Error(`Failed to add branch protection to '${name}', ${e}`);
diff --git a/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/stages/publish/helpers.ts b/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/stages/publish/helpers.ts
index d373189ec6..59d288eedc 100644
--- a/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/stages/publish/helpers.ts
+++ b/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/stages/publish/helpers.ts
@@ -73,12 +73,14 @@ type BranchProtectionOptions = {
   client: Octokit;
   owner: string;
   repoName: string;
+  logger: Logger;
 };
 
 export const enableBranchProtectionOnDefaultRepoBranch = async ({
   repoName,
   client,
   owner,
+  logger,
 }: BranchProtectionOptions): Promise<void> => {
   const tryOnce = () => {
     return client.repos.updateBranchProtection({
@@ -105,6 +107,17 @@ export const enableBranchProtectionOnDefaultRepoBranch = async ({
   try {
     await tryOnce();
   } catch (e) {
+    if (
+      e.message.includes(
+        'Upgrade to GitHub Pro or make this repository public to enable this feature',
+      )
+    ) {
+      logger.warn(
+        'Branch protection was not enabled as it requires GitHub Pro for private repositories',
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (!e.message.includes('Branch not found')) {
       throw e;
     }