diff --git a/autogits.spec b/autogits.spec
index 56264f4..c450d7a 100644
--- a/autogits.spec
+++ b/autogits.spec
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ install -D -m0644 systemd/obs-staging-bot.service
 install -D -m0755 obs-status-service/obs-status-service                            %{buildroot}%{_bindir}/obs-status-service
 install -D -m0644 systemd/obs-status-service.service                               %{buildroot}%{_unitdir}/obs-status-service.service
 install -D -m0755 workflow-direct/workflow-direct                                  %{buildroot}%{_bindir}/workflow-direct
+install -D -m0644 systemd/workflow-direct@.service                                 %{buildroot}%{_unitdir}/workflow-direct@.service
 install -D -m0755 workflow-pr/workflow-pr                                          %{buildroot}%{_bindir}/workflow-pr
 install -D -m0755 utils/hujson/hujson                                              %{buildroot}%{_bindir}/hujson
 
@@ -261,6 +262,7 @@ install -D -m0755 utils/hujson/hujson
 %license COPYING
 %doc workflow-direct/README.md
 %{_bindir}/workflow-direct
+%{_unitdir}/workflow-direct@.service
 
 %files workflow-pr
 %license COPYING
diff --git a/common/utils.go b/common/utils.go
index a504b4c..c3dca76 100644
--- a/common/utils.go
+++ b/common/utils.go
@@ -168,9 +168,10 @@ func FetchDevelProjects() (DevelProjects, error) {
 }
 
 var DevelProjectNotFound = errors.New("Devel project not found")
+
 func (d DevelProjects) GetDevelProject(pkg string) (string, error) {
 	for _, item := range d {
-	if item.Package == pkg {
+		if item.Package == pkg {
 			return item.Project, nil
 		}
 	}
@@ -178,3 +179,33 @@ func (d DevelProjects) GetDevelProject(pkg string) (string, error) {
 	return "", DevelProjectNotFound
 }
 
+var removedBranchNameSuffixes []string = []string{
+	"-rm",
+	"-removed",
+	"-deleted",
+}
+
+func findRemovedBranchSuffix(branchName string) string {
+	branchName = strings.ToLower(branchName)
+
+	for _, suffix := range removedBranchNameSuffixes {
+		if len(suffix) < len(branchName) && strings.HasSuffix(branchName, suffix) {
+			return suffix
+		}
+	}
+
+	return ""
+}
+
+func IsRemovedBranch(branchName string) bool {
+	return len(findRemovedBranchSuffix(branchName)) > 0
+}
+
+func TrimRemovedBranchSuffix(branchName string) string {
+	suffix := findRemovedBranchSuffix(branchName)
+	if len(suffix) > 0 {
+		return branchName[0 : len(branchName)-len(suffix)]
+	}
+
+	return branchName
+}
diff --git a/common/utils_test.go b/common/utils_test.go
index 38507ce..608387d 100644
--- a/common/utils_test.go
+++ b/common/utils_test.go
@@ -165,3 +165,58 @@ func TestRemoteName(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestRemovedBranchName(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		branchName  string
+		isRemoved   bool
+		regularName string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "Empty branch",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "Removed suffix only",
+			branchName:  "-rm",
+			isRemoved:   false,
+			regularName: "-rm",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "Capital suffix",
+			branchName:  "Foo-Rm",
+			isRemoved:   true,
+			regularName: "Foo",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "Other suffixes",
+			isRemoved:   true,
+			branchName:  "Goo-Rm-DeleteD",
+			regularName: "Goo-Rm",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "Other suffixes",
+			isRemoved:   true,
+			branchName:  "main-REMOVED",
+			regularName: "main",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "Not removed separator",
+			isRemoved:   false,
+			branchName:  "main;REMOVED",
+			regularName: "main;REMOVED",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if r := common.IsRemovedBranch(test.branchName); r != test.isRemoved {
+				t.Error("Expecting isRemoved:", test.isRemoved, "but received", r)
+			}
+
+			if tn := common.TrimRemovedBranchSuffix(test.branchName); tn != test.regularName {
+				t.Error("Expected stripped branch name to be:", test.regularName, "but have:", tn)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/systemd/workflow-direct@.service b/systemd/workflow-direct@.service
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..17aaf0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/systemd/workflow-direct@.service
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=WorkflowDirect git bot for %i
+After=network-online.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=exec
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/workflow-direct
+EnvironmentFile=-/etc/default/%i/workflow-direct.env
+DynamicUser=yes
+NoNewPrivileges=yes
+ProtectSystem=strict
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
+
diff --git a/workflow-direct/main.go b/workflow-direct/main.go
index 4fe532c..711ae7a 100644
--- a/workflow-direct/main.go
+++ b/workflow-direct/main.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/fs"
-	"log"
 	"math/rand"
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ import (
 const (
 	AppName   = "direct_workflow"
 	GitAuthor = "AutoGits prjgit-updater"
-	GitEmail  = "adam+autogits-direct@zombino.com"
+	GitEmail  = "autogits-direct@noreply@src.opensuse.org"
 )
 
 var configuredRepos map[string][]*common.AutogitConfig
@@ -53,18 +52,6 @@ func isConfiguredOrg(org *common.Organization) bool {
 	return found
 }
 
-func concatenateErrors(err1, err2 error) error {
-	if err1 == nil {
-		return err2
-	}
-
-	if err2 == nil {
-		return err1
-	}
-
-	return fmt.Errorf("%w\n%w", err1, err2)
-}
-
 type RepositoryActionProcessor struct{}
 
 func (*RepositoryActionProcessor) ProcessFunc(request *common.Request) error {
@@ -72,38 +59,43 @@ func (*RepositoryActionProcessor) ProcessFunc(request *common.Request) error {
 	configs, configFound := configuredRepos[action.Organization.Username]
 
 	if !configFound {
-		log.Printf("Repository event for %s. Not configured. Ignoring.\n", action.Organization.Username)
+		common.LogInfo("Repository event for", action.Organization.Username, ". Not configured. Ignoring.", action.Organization.Username)
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	for _, config := range configs {
 		if org, repo, _ := config.GetPrjGit(); org == action.Repository.Owner.Username && repo == action.Repository.Name {
-			log.Println("+ ignoring repo event for PrjGit repository", config.GitProjectName)
+			common.LogError("+ ignoring repo event for PrjGit repository", config.GitProjectName)
 			return nil
 		}
 	}
 
-	var err error
 	for _, config := range configs {
-		err = concatenateErrors(err, processConfiguredRepositoryAction(action, config))
+		processConfiguredRepositoryAction(action, config)
 	}
 
-	return err
+	return nil
 }
 
-func processConfiguredRepositoryAction(action *common.RepositoryWebhookEvent, config *common.AutogitConfig) error {
+func processConfiguredRepositoryAction(action *common.RepositoryWebhookEvent, config *common.AutogitConfig) {
 	gitOrg, gitPrj, gitBranch := config.GetPrjGit()
 	git, err := gh.CreateGitHandler(config.Organization)
 	common.PanicOnError(err)
 	defer git.Close()
 
-	if len(config.Branch) == 0 {
-		config.Branch = action.Repository.Default_Branch
+	configBranch := config.Branch
+	if len(configBranch) == 0 {
+		configBranch = action.Repository.Default_Branch
+		if common.IsRemovedBranch(configBranch) {
+			common.LogDebug("   - default branch has deleted suffix. Skipping")
+			return
+		}
 	}
 
 	prjGitRepo, err := gitea.CreateRepositoryIfNotExist(git, gitOrg, gitPrj)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Error accessing/creating prjgit: %s/%s#%s err: %w", gitOrg, gitPrj, gitBranch, err)
+		common.LogError("Error accessing/creating prjgit:", gitOrg, gitPrj, gitBranch, err)
+		return
 	}
 
 	remoteName, err := git.GitClone(gitPrj, gitBranch, prjGitRepo.SSHURL)
@@ -112,29 +104,29 @@ func processConfiguredRepositoryAction(action *common.RepositoryWebhookEvent, co
 	switch action.Action {
 	case "created":
 		if action.Repository.Object_Format_Name != "sha256" {
-			return fmt.Errorf("   - '%s' repo is not sha256. Ignoring.", action.Repository.Name)
+			common.LogError("   - '%s' repo is not sha256. Ignoring.", action.Repository.Name)
+			return
 		}
 		common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(gitPrj, "submodule", "--quiet", "add", "--depth", "1", action.Repository.Clone_Url, action.Repository.Name))
-		defer git.GitExecOrPanic(gitPrj, "submodule", "deinit", "--all")
+		defer git.GitExecQuietOrPanic(gitPrj, "submodule", "deinit", "--all")
 
 		branch := strings.TrimSpace(git.GitExecWithOutputOrPanic(path.Join(gitPrj, action.Repository.Name), "branch", "--show-current"))
-		if branch != config.Branch {
-			if err := git.GitExec(path.Join(gitPrj, action.Repository.Name), "fetch", "--depth", "1", "origin", config.Branch+":"+config.Branch); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("error fetching branch %s. ignoring as non-existent. err: %w", config.Branch, err) // no branch? so ignore repo here
+		if branch != configBranch {
+			if err := git.GitExec(path.Join(gitPrj, action.Repository.Name), "fetch", "--depth", "1", "origin", configBranch+":"+configBranch); err != nil {
+				common.LogError("error fetching branch", configBranch, ". ignoring as non-existent.", err) // no branch? so ignore repo here
+				return
 			}
-			common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(path.Join(gitPrj, action.Repository.Name), "checkout", config.Branch))
+			common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(path.Join(gitPrj, action.Repository.Name), "checkout", configBranch))
 		}
-		common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(gitPrj, "commit", "-m", "Automatic package inclusion via Direct Workflow"))
+		common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(gitPrj, "commit", "-m", "Auto-inclusion "+action.Repository.Name))
 		if !noop {
 			common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(gitPrj, "push"))
 		}
 
 	case "deleted":
 		if stat, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(git.GetPath(), gitPrj, action.Repository.Name)); err != nil || !stat.IsDir() {
-			if DebugMode {
-				log.Println("delete event for", action.Repository.Name, "-- not in project. Ignoring")
-			}
-			return nil
+			common.LogDebug("delete event for", action.Repository.Name, "-- not in project. Ignoring")
+			return
 		}
 		common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(gitPrj, "rm", action.Repository.Name))
 		common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(gitPrj, "commit", "-m", "Automatic package removal via Direct Workflow"))
@@ -143,10 +135,9 @@ func processConfiguredRepositoryAction(action *common.RepositoryWebhookEvent, co
 		}
 
 	default:
-		return fmt.Errorf("%s: %s", "Unknown action type", action.Action)
+		common.LogError("Unknown action type:", action.Action)
+		return
 	}
-
-	return nil
 }
 
 type PushActionProcessor struct{}
@@ -156,40 +147,44 @@ func (*PushActionProcessor) ProcessFunc(request *common.Request) error {
 	configs, configFound := configuredRepos[action.Repository.Owner.Username]
 
 	if !configFound {
-		log.Printf("Repository event for %s. Not configured. Ignoring.\n", action.Repository.Owner.Username)
+		common.LogDebug("Repository event for", action.Repository.Owner.Username, ". Not configured. Ignoring.")
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	for _, config := range configs {
 		if gitOrg, gitPrj, _ := config.GetPrjGit(); gitOrg == action.Repository.Owner.Username && gitPrj == action.Repository.Name {
-			log.Println("+ ignoring push to PrjGit repository", config.GitProjectName)
+			common.LogInfo("+ ignoring push to PrjGit repository", config.GitProjectName)
 			return nil
 		}
 	}
 
-	var err error
 	for _, config := range configs {
-		err = concatenateErrors(err, processConfiguredPushAction(action, config))
+		processConfiguredPushAction(action, config)
 	}
-
-	return err
+	return nil
 }
 
-func processConfiguredPushAction(action *common.PushWebhookEvent, config *common.AutogitConfig) error {
+func processConfiguredPushAction(action *common.PushWebhookEvent, config *common.AutogitConfig) {
 	gitOrg, gitPrj, gitBranch := config.GetPrjGit()
 	git, err := gh.CreateGitHandler(config.Organization)
 	common.PanicOnError(err)
 	defer git.Close()
 
-	log.Printf("push to: %s/%s for %s/%s#%s", action.Repository.Owner.Username, action.Repository.Name, gitOrg, gitPrj, gitBranch)
-	if len(config.Branch) == 0 {
-		config.Branch = action.Repository.Default_Branch
-		log.Println("  + default branch", action.Repository.Default_Branch)
+	common.LogDebug("push to:", action.Repository.Owner.Username, action.Repository.Name, "for:", gitOrg, gitPrj, gitBranch)
+	branch := config.Branch
+	if len(branch) == 0 {
+		if common.IsRemovedBranch(branch) {
+			common.LogDebug("  + default branch has removed suffix:", branch, "Skipping.")
+			return
+		}
+		branch = action.Repository.Default_Branch
+		common.LogDebug("  + using default branch", branch)
 	}
 
 	prjGitRepo, err := gitea.CreateRepositoryIfNotExist(git, gitOrg, gitPrj)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Error accessing/creating prjgit: %s/%s err: %w", gitOrg, gitPrj, err)
+		common.LogError("Error accessing/creating prjgit:", gitOrg, gitPrj, err)
+		return
 	}
 
 	remoteName, err := git.GitClone(gitPrj, gitBranch, prjGitRepo.SSHURL)
@@ -198,23 +193,25 @@ func processConfiguredPushAction(action *common.PushWebhookEvent, config *common
 	common.PanicOnError(err)
 	commit, ok := git.GitSubmoduleCommitId(gitPrj, action.Repository.Name, headCommitId)
 	for ok && action.Head_Commit.Id == commit {
-		log.Println("  -- nothing to do, commit already in ProjectGit")
-		return nil
+		common.LogDebug("  -- nothing to do, commit already in ProjectGit")
+		return
 	}
 
-	if stat, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(git.GetPath(), gitPrj, action.Repository.Name)); err != nil || !stat.IsDir() {
-		if DebugMode {
-			log.Println("Pushed to package that is not part of the project. Ignoring:", err)
-		}
-		return nil
+	if stat, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(git.GetPath(), gitPrj, action.Repository.Name)); err != nil {
+		git.GitExecOrPanic(gitPrj, "submodule", "--quiet", "add", "--depth", "1", action.Repository.Clone_Url, action.Repository.Name)
+		common.LogDebug("Pushed to package that is not part of the project. Re-adding...", err)
+	} else if !stat.IsDir() {
+		common.LogError("Pushed to a package that is not a submodule but exists in the project. Ignoring.")
+		return
 	}
 	git.GitExecOrPanic(gitPrj, "submodule", "update", "--init", "--depth", "1", "--checkout", action.Repository.Name)
-	defer git.GitExecOrPanic(gitPrj, "submodule", "deinit", "--all")
+	defer git.GitExecQuietOrPanic(gitPrj, "submodule", "deinit", "--all")
 
-	if err := git.GitExec(filepath.Join(gitPrj, action.Repository.Name), "fetch", "--depth", "1", "--force", remoteName, config.Branch+":"+config.Branch); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("error fetching branch %s. ignoring as non-existent. err: %w", config.Branch, err) // no branch? so ignore repo here
+	if err := git.GitExec(filepath.Join(gitPrj, action.Repository.Name), "fetch", "--depth", "1", "--force", remoteName, branch+":"+branch); err != nil {
+		common.LogError("Error fetching branch:", branch, "Ignoring as non-existent.", err)
+		return
 	}
-	id, err := git.GitRemoteHead(filepath.Join(gitPrj, action.Repository.Name), remoteName, config.Branch)
+	id, err := git.GitRemoteHead(filepath.Join(gitPrj, action.Repository.Name), remoteName, branch)
 	common.PanicOnError(err)
 	if action.Head_Commit.Id == id {
 		git.GitExecOrPanic(filepath.Join(gitPrj, action.Repository.Name), "checkout", id)
@@ -222,11 +219,10 @@ func processConfiguredPushAction(action *common.PushWebhookEvent, config *common
 		if !noop {
 			git.GitExecOrPanic(gitPrj, "push", remoteName)
 		}
-		return nil
+		return
 	}
 
-	log.Println("push of refs not on the configured branch", config.Branch, ". ignoring.")
-	return nil
+	common.LogDebug("push of refs not on the configured branch", branch, ". ignoring.")
 }
 
 func verifyProjectState(git common.Git, org string, config *common.AutogitConfig, configs []*common.AutogitConfig) (err error) {
@@ -248,51 +244,61 @@ func verifyProjectState(git common.Git, org string, config *common.AutogitConfig
 
 	remoteName, err := git.GitClone(gitPrj, gitBranch, repo.SSHURL)
 	common.PanicOnError(err)
-	defer git.GitExecOrPanic(gitPrj, "submodule", "deinit", "--all")
+	defer git.GitExecQuietOrPanic(gitPrj, "submodule", "deinit", "--all")
 
-	log.Println("   * Getting submodule list")
+	common.LogDebug("   * Getting submodule list")
 	sub, err := git.GitSubmoduleList(gitPrj, "HEAD")
 	common.PanicOnError(err)
 
-	log.Println("   * Getting package links")
+	common.LogDebug("   * Getting package links")
 	var pkgLinks []*PackageRebaseLink
 	if f, err := fs.Stat(os.DirFS(path.Join(git.GetPath(), gitPrj)), common.PrjLinksFile); err == nil && (f.Mode()&fs.ModeType == 0) && f.Size() < 1000000 {
 		if data, err := os.ReadFile(path.Join(git.GetPath(), gitPrj, common.PrjLinksFile)); err == nil {
 			pkgLinks, err = parseProjectLinks(data)
 			if err != nil {
-				log.Println("Cannot parse project links file:", err.Error())
+				common.LogError("Cannot parse project links file:", err.Error())
 				pkgLinks = nil
 			} else {
 				ResolveLinks(org, pkgLinks, gitea)
 			}
 		}
 	} else {
-		log.Println("   - No package links defined")
+		common.LogInfo("   - No package links defined")
 	}
 
 	/* Check existing submodule that they are updated */
-
 	isGitUpdated := false
 next_package:
 	for filename, commitId := range sub {
 		// ignore project gits
 		//for _, c := range configs {
 		if gitPrj == filename {
-			log.Println("     prjgit as package? ignoring project git:", filename)
+			common.LogDebug("     prjgit as package? ignoring project git:", filename)
 			continue next_package
 		}
 		//}
 
-		log.Printf("     verifying package: %s -> %s(%s)", commitId, filename, config.Branch)
-		commits, err := gitea.GetRecentCommits(org, filename, config.Branch, 10)
-		if len(commits) == 0 {
-			if repo, err := gitea.GetRepository(org, filename); repo == nil && err == nil {
+		branch := config.Branch
+		common.LogDebug("     verifying package: %s -> %s(%s)", commitId, filename, branch)
+		if repo, err := gitea.GetRepository(org, filename); repo == nil && err == nil {
+			common.LogDebug("       repository removed...")
+			git.GitExecOrPanic(gitPrj, "rm", filename)
+			isGitUpdated = true
+			continue
+		}
+		if len(branch) == 0 {
+			branch = repo.DefaultBranch
+			if common.IsRemovedBranch(branch) {
+				common.LogDebug("      Default branch for", filename, "is excluded")
 				git.GitExecOrPanic(gitPrj, "rm", filename)
 				isGitUpdated = true
+				continue
 			}
 		}
+
+		commits, err := gitea.GetRecentCommits(org, filename, branch, 10)
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Println("   -> failed to fetch recent commits for package:", filename, " Err:", err)
+			common.LogDebug("   -> failed to fetch recent commits for package:", filename, " Err:", err)
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -309,7 +315,7 @@ next_package:
 			if l.Pkg == filename {
 				link = l
 
-				log.Println("      -> linked package")
+				common.LogDebug("      -> linked package")
 				// so, we need to rebase here. Can't really optimize, so clone entire package tree and remote
 				pkgPath := path.Join(gitPrj, filename)
 				git.GitExecOrPanic(gitPrj, "submodule", "update", "--init", "--checkout", filename)
@@ -323,7 +329,7 @@ next_package:
 				nCommits := len(common.SplitStringNoEmpty(git.GitExecWithOutputOrPanic(pkgPath, "rev-list", "^NOW", "HEAD"), "\n"))
 				if nCommits > 0 {
 					if !noop {
-						git.GitExecOrPanic(pkgPath, "push", "-f", "origin", "HEAD:"+config.Branch)
+						git.GitExecOrPanic(pkgPath, "push", "-f", "origin", "HEAD:"+branch)
 					}
 					isGitUpdated = true
 				}
@@ -340,42 +346,27 @@ next_package:
 				common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(gitPrj, "submodule", "update", "--init", "--depth", "1", "--checkout", filename))
 				common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(filepath.Join(gitPrj, filename), "fetch", "--depth", "1", "origin", commits[0].SHA))
 				common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(filepath.Join(gitPrj, filename), "checkout", commits[0].SHA))
-				log.Println("    -> updated to", commits[0].SHA)
+				common.LogDebug("    -> updated to", commits[0].SHA)
 				isGitUpdated = true
 			} else {
 				// probably need `merge-base` or `rev-list` here instead, or the project updated already
-				log.Println("     *** Cannot find SHA of last matching update for package:", filename, " Ignoring")
+				common.LogInfo("     *** Cannot find SHA of last matching update for package:", filename, " Ignoring")
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
 	// find all missing repositories, and add them
-	if DebugMode {
-		log.Println("checking for missing repositories...")
-	}
+	common.LogDebug("checking for missing repositories...")
 	repos, err := gitea.GetOrganizationRepositories(org)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if DebugMode {
-		log.Println("  nRepos:", len(repos))
-	}
+	common.LogDebug("  nRepos:", len(repos))
 
 	/* Check repositories in org to make sure they are included in project git */
 next_repo:
 	for _, r := range repos {
-		if DebugMode {
-			log.Println(" -- checking", r.Name)
-		}
-
-		if r.ObjectFormatName != "sha256" {
-			if DebugMode {
-				log.Println("    + ", r.ObjectFormatName, ". Needs to be sha256. Ignoring")
-			}
-			continue next_repo
-		}
-
 		//		for _, c := range configs {
 		if gitPrj == r.Name {
 			// ignore project gits
@@ -390,27 +381,32 @@ next_repo:
 			}
 		}
 
-		if DebugMode {
-			log.Println(" -- checking repository:", r.Name)
-		}
+		common.LogDebug(" -- checking repository:", r.Name)
 
-		if _, err := gitea.GetRecentCommits(org, r.Name, config.Branch, 1); err != nil {
+		branch := config.Branch
+		if len(branch) == 0 {
+			branch = r.DefaultBranch
+			if common.IsRemovedBranch(branch) {
+				continue
+			}
+		}
+		if commits, err := gitea.GetRecentCommits(org, r.Name, branch, 1); err != nil || len(commits) == 0 {
 			// assumption that package does not exist, so not part of project
 			// https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/issues/31976
+
+			// or, we do not have commits here
 			continue
 		}
 
 		// add repository to git project
 		common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(gitPrj, "submodule", "--quiet", "add", "--depth", "1", r.CloneURL, r.Name))
 
-		if len(config.Branch) > 0 {
-			branch := strings.TrimSpace(git.GitExecWithOutputOrPanic(path.Join(gitPrj, r.Name), "branch", "--show-current"))
-			if branch != config.Branch {
-				if err := git.GitExec(path.Join(gitPrj, r.Name), "fetch", "--depth", "1", "origin", config.Branch+":"+config.Branch); err != nil {
-					return fmt.Errorf("Fetching branch %s for %s/%s failed. Ignoring.", config.Branch, repo.Owner.UserName, r.Name)
-				}
-				common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(path.Join(gitPrj, r.Name), "checkout", config.Branch))
+		curBranch := strings.TrimSpace(git.GitExecWithOutputOrPanic(path.Join(gitPrj, r.Name), "branch", "--show-current"))
+		if branch != curBranch {
+			if err := git.GitExec(path.Join(gitPrj, r.Name), "fetch", "--depth", "1", "origin", branch+":"+branch); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("Fetching branch %s for %s/%s failed. Ignoring.", branch, repo.Owner.UserName, r.Name)
 			}
+			common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(path.Join(gitPrj, r.Name), "checkout", branch))
 		}
 
 		isGitUpdated = true
@@ -423,10 +419,7 @@ next_repo:
 		}
 	}
 
-	if DebugMode {
-		log.Println("Verification finished for ", org, ", prjgit:", config.GitProjectName)
-	}
-
+	common.LogInfo("Verification finished for ", org, ", prjgit:", config.GitProjectName)
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -437,17 +430,17 @@ var checkInterval time.Duration
 func checkOrg(org string, configs []*common.AutogitConfig) {
 	git, err := gh.CreateGitHandler(org)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Println("Faield to allocate GitHandler:", err)
+		common.LogError("Failed to allocate GitHandler:", err)
 		return
 	}
 	defer git.Close()
 
 	for _, config := range configs {
-		log.Printf(" ++ starting verification, org: `%s` config: `%s`\n", org, config.GitProjectName)
+		common.LogInfo(" ++ starting verification, org:", org, "config:", config.GitProjectName)
 		if err := verifyProjectState(git, org, config, configs); err != nil {
-			log.Printf(" *** verification failed, org: `%s`, err: %#v\n", org, err)
+			common.LogError(" *** verification failed, org:", org, err)
 		} else {
-			log.Printf(" ++ verification complete, org: `%s` config: `%s`\n", org, config.GitProjectName)
+			common.LogError(" ++ verification complete, org:", org, config.GitProjectName)
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -456,7 +449,7 @@ func checkRepos() {
 	for org, configs := range configuredRepos {
 		if checkInterval > 0 {
 			sleepInterval := checkInterval - checkInterval/2 + time.Duration(rand.Int63n(int64(checkInterval)))
-			log.Println(" - sleep interval", sleepInterval, "until next check")
+			common.LogInfo(" - sleep interval", sleepInterval, "until next check")
 			time.Sleep(sleepInterval)
 		}
 
@@ -468,9 +461,9 @@ func consistencyCheckProcess() {
 	if checkOnStart {
 		savedCheckInterval := checkInterval
 		checkInterval = 0
-		log.Println("== Startup consistency check begin...")
+		common.LogInfo("== Startup consistency check begin...")
 		checkRepos()
-		log.Println("== Startup consistency check done...")
+		common.LogInfo("== Startup consistency check done...")
 		checkInterval = savedCheckInterval
 	}
 
@@ -485,7 +478,8 @@ var gh common.GitHandlerGenerator
 func updateConfiguration(configFilename string, orgs *[]string) {
 	configFile, err := common.ReadConfigFile(configFilename)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatal(err)
+		common.LogError(err)
+		os.Exit(4)
 	}
 
 	configs, _ := common.ResolveWorkflowConfigs(gitea, configFile)
@@ -493,9 +487,7 @@ func updateConfiguration(configFilename string, orgs *[]string) {
 	*orgs = make([]string, 0, 1)
 	for _, c := range configs {
 		if slices.Contains(c.Workflows, "direct") {
-			if DebugMode {
-				log.Printf("  + adding org: '%s', branch: '%s', prjgit: '%s'\n", c.Organization, c.Branch, c.GitProjectName)
-			}
+			common.LogDebug("  + adding org:", c.Organization, ", branch:", c.Branch, ", prjgit:", c.GitProjectName)
 			configs := configuredRepos[c.Organization]
 			if configs == nil {
 				configs = make([]*common.AutogitConfig, 0, 1)
@@ -520,10 +512,12 @@ func main() {
 	flag.Parse()
 
 	if err := common.RequireGiteaSecretToken(); err != nil {
-		log.Fatal(err)
+		common.LogError(err)
+		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 	if err := common.RequireRabbitSecrets(); err != nil {
-		log.Fatal(err)
+		common.LogError(err)
+		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
 	defs := &common.RabbitMQGiteaEventsProcessor{}
@@ -532,12 +526,14 @@ func main() {
 	if len(*basePath) == 0 {
 		*basePath, err = os.MkdirTemp(os.TempDir(), AppName)
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
+			common.LogError(err)
+			os.Exit(1)
 		}
 	}
 	gh, err = common.AllocateGitWorkTree(*basePath, GitAuthor, GitEmail)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatal(err)
+		common.LogError(err)
+		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
 	// handle reconfiguration
@@ -552,10 +548,10 @@ func main() {
 			}
 
 			if sig != syscall.SIGHUP {
-				log.Println("Unexpected signal received:", sig)
+				common.LogError("Unexpected signal received:", sig)
 				continue
 			}
-			log.Println("*** Reconfiguring ***")
+			common.LogError("*** Reconfiguring ***")
 			updateConfiguration(*configFilename, &defs.Orgs)
 			defs.Connection().UpdateTopics(defs)
 		}
@@ -567,23 +563,25 @@ func main() {
 	gitea = common.AllocateGiteaTransport(*giteaUrl)
 	CurrentUser, err := gitea.GetCurrentUser()
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalln("Cannot fetch current user:", err)
+		common.LogError("Cannot fetch current user:", err)
+		os.Exit(2)
 	}
-	log.Println("Current User:", CurrentUser.UserName)
+	common.LogInfo("Current User:", CurrentUser.UserName)
 
 	updateConfiguration(*configFilename, &defs.Orgs)
 
 	defs.Connection().RabbitURL, err = url.Parse(*rabbitUrl)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Panicf("cannot parse server URL. Err: %#v\n", err)
+		common.LogError("cannot parse server URL. Err:", err)
+		os.Exit(3)
 	}
 
 	go consistencyCheckProcess()
-	log.Println("defs:", *defs)
+	common.LogInfo("defs:", *defs)
 
 	defs.Handlers = make(map[string]common.RequestProcessor)
 	defs.Handlers[common.RequestType_Push] = &PushActionProcessor{}
 	defs.Handlers[common.RequestType_Repository] = &RepositoryActionProcessor{}
 
-	log.Fatal(common.ProcessRabbitMQEvents(defs))
+	common.LogError(common.ProcessRabbitMQEvents(defs))
 }