diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-metadata.yml b/.github/workflows/pr-metadata.yml
index e7cfc1eacb4b..9551475f0869 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-metadata.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-metadata.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ jobs:
             const repo = context.repo.repo;
             const issue_number = pr.number;
 
-            const assignees = ['TechEngineBot'];
+            // TechEngineBot is left out while its GitHub account is suspended:
+            // assigning a suspended user 404s the whole call regardless of token.
+            // Re-add it here once the account is reinstated.
+            const assignees = [];
             if (!pr.user?.type?.endsWith('Bot')) {
               assignees.push(pr.user.login);
             }