diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 7f8df842..ac7fe39e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -43,11 +43,15 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "@octokit/rest": "^18.0.1",
     "@types/yargs": "^15.0.5",
+    "async-retry": "^1.3.1",
     "glob": "^7.1.6",
     "pino": "^6.3.2",
     "yargs": "^15.4.1"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
+    "@microsoft/api-documenter": "^7.8.10",
+    "@microsoft/api-extractor": "^7.8.10",
+    "@types/async-retry": "^1.4.2",
     "@types/chai": "^4.2.11",
     "@types/mocha": "^8.0.0",
     "@types/node": "^14.0.20",
@@ -70,8 +74,6 @@
     "ts-loader": "^8.0.0",
     "typescript": "^3.9.5",
     "webpack": "^4.41.2",
-    "webpack-cli": "^3.3.10",
-    "@microsoft/api-documenter": "^7.8.10",
-    "@microsoft/api-extractor": "^7.8.10"
+    "webpack-cli": "^3.3.10"
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/github-handler/fork-handler.ts b/src/github-handler/fork-handler.ts
index 46304912..5497eb31 100644
--- a/src/github-handler/fork-handler.ts
+++ b/src/github-handler/fork-handler.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ import {logger} from '../logger';
 
 /**
  * Fork the GitHub owner's repository.
- * Returns the fork owner and fork repo if successful. Otherwise throws error.
+ * Returns the fork owner and fork repo when the fork creation request to GitHub succeeds.
+ * Otherwise throws error.
  *
  * If fork already exists no new fork is created, no error occurs, and the existing Fork data is returned
  * with the `updated_at` + any historical repo changes.
@@ -37,11 +38,14 @@ async function fork(
         repo: upstream.repo,
       })
     ).data;
-    logger.info(`Fork successfully exists on ${upstream.repo}`);
-    return {
+    const origin: RepoDomain = {
       repo: forkedRepo.name,
       owner: forkedRepo.owner.login,
     };
+    logger.info(
+      `Create fork request was successful for ${origin.owner}/${origin.repo}`
+    );
+    return origin;
   } catch (err) {
     logger.error('Error when forking');
     throw Error(err.toString());
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 8032ecc2..74afebff 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -25,12 +25,23 @@ import {Octokit} from '@octokit/rest';
 import {Logger} from 'pino';
 import {logger, setupLogger} from './logger';
 import {addPullRequestDefaults} from './default-options-handler';
+import * as retry from 'async-retry';
 
 /**
  * Make a new GitHub Pull Request with a set of changes applied on top of primary branch HEAD.
  * The changes are committed into a new branch based on the upstream repository options using the authenticated Octokit account.
  * Then a Pull Request is made from that branch.
- * If the upstream
+ *
+ * Also throws error if git data from the fork is not ready in 5 minutes.
+ *
+ * From the docs
+ * https://developer.github.com/v3/repos/forks/#create-a-fork
+ * """
+ * Forking a Repository happens asynchronously.
+ * You may have to wait a short period of time before you can access the git objects.
+ * If this takes longer than 5 minutes, be sure to contact GitHub Support or GitHub Premium Support.
+ * """
+ *
  * If changes are empty then the workflow will not run.
  * Rethrows an HttpError if Octokit GitHub API returns an error. HttpError Octokit access_token and client_secret headers redact all sensitive information.
  * @param {Octokit} octokit The authenticated octokit instance, instantiated with an access token having permissiong to create a fork on the target repository
@@ -65,13 +76,26 @@ async function createPullRequest(
     ...origin,
     branch: gitHubConfigs.branch,
   };
-  const refHeadSha: string = await handler.branch(
-    octokit,
-    origin,
-    upstream,
-    originBranch.branch,
-    gitHubConfigs.primary
+  const refHeadSha: string = await retry(
+    async () =>
+      await handler.branch(
+        octokit,
+        origin,
+        upstream,
+        originBranch.branch,
+        gitHubConfigs.primary
+      ),
+    {
+      retries: 5,
+      factor: 2.8411, // https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Sum%5B3000*x%5Ek%2C+%7Bk%2C+0%2C+4%7D%5D+%3D+5+*+60+*+1000
+      minTimeout: 3000,
+      randomize: false,
+      onRetry: () => {
+        logger.info('Retrying at a later time...');
+      },
+    }
   );
+
   await handler.commitAndPush(
     octokit,
     refHeadSha,
diff --git a/test/main-make-pr.ts b/test/main-make-pr.ts
index 7cc2f05a..4535dfd7 100644
--- a/test/main-make-pr.ts
+++ b/test/main-make-pr.ts
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@ import * as sinon from 'sinon';
 import {Changes, FileData, CreatePullRequestUserOptions} from '../src/types';
 import {Octokit} from '@octokit/rest';
 import * as proxyquire from 'proxyquire';
-
+import * as retry from 'async-retry';
 before(() => {
   setup();
 });
 
+/* eslint-disable  @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars */
 // tslint:disable:no-unused-expression
 // .true triggers ts-lint failure, but is valid chai
 describe('Make PR main function', () => {
@@ -144,7 +145,6 @@ describe('Make PR main function', () => {
   });
   it('Passes up the error message with a throw when create branch helper fails', async () => {
     // setup
-
     const stubHelperHandlers = {
       fork: (octokit: Octokit, upstream: {owner: string; repo: string}) => {
         expect(upstream.owner).equals(upstreamOwner);
@@ -160,6 +160,18 @@ describe('Make PR main function', () => {
     };
     const stubMakePr = proxyquire.noCallThru()('../src/', {
       './github-handler': stubHelperHandlers,
+      'async-retry': async (
+        fn: Function,
+        options: {[index: string]: unknown}
+      ) => {
+        expect(options.retries).equals(5);
+        expect(options.factor).equals(2.8411);
+        expect(options.minTimeout).equals(3000);
+        expect(options.randomize).equals(false);
+        await retry(() => fn(), {
+          retries: 0,
+        });
+      },
     });
     try {
       await stubMakePr.createPullRequest(octokit, changes, options);