diff --git a/conftest.py b/conftest.py
index 40dafd0ba5..9f148d338d 100644
--- a/conftest.py
+++ b/conftest.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 from tests.utils import make_dataset_add_payload
 
 IT_PROTECTED_REMOTE_REPO_URL = os.getenv(
-    "IT_PROTECTED_REMOTE_REPO", "https://dev.renku.ch/gitlab/renku-qa/core-integration-test"
+    "IT_PROTECTED_REMOTE_REPO", "https://dev.renku.ch/gitlab/renku-qa/core-it-protected.git"
 )
 
 IT_REMOTE_REPO_URL = os.getenv("IT_REMOTE_REPOSITORY", "https://dev.renku.ch/gitlab/renku-qa/core-integration-test")
@@ -976,6 +976,9 @@ def svc_protected_repo(svc_client):
 
     response = svc_client.post("/cache.project_clone", data=json.dumps(payload), headers=headers)
 
+    project_id = response.json["result"]["project_id"]
+    _ = svc_client.post("/cache.migrate", data=json.dumps(dict(project_id=project_id)), headers=headers)
+
     yield svc_client, headers, payload, response
 
 
diff --git a/renku/core/commands/save.py b/renku/core/commands/save.py
index 51b6df6c4b..cccb2d697c 100644
--- a/renku/core/commands/save.py
+++ b/renku/core/commands/save.py
@@ -97,18 +97,19 @@ def repo_sync(repo, message=None, remote=None, paths=None):
             raise errors.GitError("Cannot commit changes") from e
 
     try:
-        # push local changes to remote branch
+        # NOTE: Push local changes to remote branch.
         if origin.refs and repo.active_branch in origin.refs:
             origin.fetch()
             origin.pull(repo.active_branch)
 
-        origin.push(repo.active_branch)
+        result = origin.push(repo.active_branch)
+        if result and "[remote rejected] (pre-receive hook declined)" in result[0].summary:
+            # NOTE: Push to new remote branch if original one is protected.
+            pushed_branch = uuid4().hex
+            repo.create_head(pushed_branch)
+            repo.remote().push(pushed_branch)
+
     except git.exc.GitCommandError as e:
-        if "protected branches" not in e.stderr:
-            raise errors.GitError("Cannot push changes") from e
-        # push to new remote branch if original one is protected
-        pushed_branch = uuid4().hex
-        origin = repo.create_remote(pushed_branch, remote)
-        origin.push(repo.active_branch)
+        raise errors.GitError("Cannot push changes") from e
 
     return saved_paths, pushed_branch
diff --git a/tests/service/views/test_dataset_views.py b/tests/service/views/test_dataset_views.py
index bf5bbe5b9b..9d3fa27193 100644
--- a/tests/service/views/test_dataset_views.py
+++ b/tests/service/views/test_dataset_views.py
@@ -945,7 +945,8 @@ def test_edit_datasets_view(svc_client_with_repo):
 def test_protected_branch(svc_protected_repo):
     """Test adding a file to protected branch."""
     svc_client, headers, payload, response = svc_protected_repo
-    assert response
+
+    assert_rpc_response(response)
     assert {"result"} == set(response.json.keys())
 
     payload = {
@@ -954,11 +955,8 @@ def test_protected_branch(svc_protected_repo):
     }
 
     response = svc_client.post("/datasets.create", data=json.dumps(payload), headers=headers,)
-    assert response
 
-    if "error" in response.json.keys() and response.json["error"]["migration_required"]:
-        # TODO: Fix this test to work with new project versions
-        return
+    assert_rpc_response(response)
     assert {"result"} == set(response.json.keys())
     assert "master" != response.json["result"]["remote_branch"]