diff --git a/spectacles/runner.py b/spectacles/runner.py
index e73384da..d33c3366 100644
--- a/spectacles/runner.py
+++ b/spectacles/runner.py
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ async def validate_content(
 
         if incremental and (self.branch_manager.branch or self.branch_manager.commit):
             logger.debug("Starting another content validation against the target ref")
-            async with self.branch_manager(ref=target):
+            async with self.branch_manager(ref=target, ephemeral=True):
                 logger.debug(
                     "Building LookML project hierarchy for project "
                     f"'{self.project}' @ {self.branch_manager.ref}"