diff --git a/docs/guides/image-update.md b/docs/guides/image-update.md
index 64ce95b8..0794af64 100644
--- a/docs/guides/image-update.md
+++ b/docs/guides/image-update.md
@@ -246,7 +246,6 @@ Create an `ImageUpdateAutomation` to tell Flux which Git repository to write ima
 ```sh
 flux create image update flux-system \
 --git-repo-ref=flux-system \
---branch=main \
 --git-repo-path="./clusters/my-cluster" \
 --checkout-branch=main \
 --push-branch=main \