diff --git a/.github/workflows/changelog_verifier.yml b/.github/workflows/changelog_verifier.yml
index 505b02426f22c..ee9bf5e18d0d5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/changelog_verifier.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/changelog_verifier.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
+          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
 
       - uses: dangoslen/dependabot-changelog-helper@v1
 
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 513fb92ad2675..bc7baef8f83fa 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ Inspired from [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/)
 
 ### Fixed
 - `opensearch-service.bat start` and `opensearch-service.bat manager` failing to run ([#4289](https://github.com/opensearch-project/OpenSearch/pull/4289))
+- PR reference to checkout code for changelog verifier ([#4296](https://github.com/opensearch-project/OpenSearch/pull/4296))
 
 ### Security
 
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 16821b1915032..fc02d52f0bc3b 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -131,8 +131,6 @@ As a contributor, you must ensure that every pull request has the changes listed
 Adding in the change is two step process -
 1. Add your changes to the corresponding section within the CHANGELOG file with dummy pull request information, publish the PR
 
-  `Your change here ([#PR_NUMBER](PR_URL))`
-
 2. Update the entry for your change in [`CHANGELOG.md`](CHANGELOG.md) and make sure that you reference the pull request there.