diff --git a/.github/workflows/r_package.yml b/.github/workflows/r_package.yml
index 7d3a58f169a3..ee73b379e59f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/r_package.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/r_package.yml
@@ -138,13 +138,13 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install pandoc
         uses: r-lib/actions/setup-pandoc@v1
       - name: Setup and run tests on Linux and macOS
-        if: startsWith(matrix.os, 'macOS') || matrix.os == 'ubuntu-latest'
+        if: matrix.os == 'macOS-latest' || matrix.os == 'ubuntu-latest'
         shell: bash
         run: |
           export TASK="${{ matrix.task }}"
           export COMPILER="${{ matrix.compiler }}"
           export GITHUB_ACTIONS="true"
-          if [[ $(echo "${{ matrix.os }}" | head -c5) == "macOS" ]]; then
+          if [[ "${{ matrix.os }}" == "macOS-latest" ]]; then
               export OS_NAME="macos"
           elif [[ "${{ matrix.os }}" == "ubuntu-latest" ]]; then
               export OS_NAME="linux"