diff --git a/scripts/deploy_release.sh b/scripts/deploy_release.sh
index bfe7739..b24118b 100755
--- a/scripts/deploy_release.sh
+++ b/scripts/deploy_release.sh
@@ -8,9 +8,8 @@ tag="$REGISTRY/$SERVICE:${COMMIT_SHA:0:10}"
 
 echo "pulling deployments repo"
 
-[ ! -d _deployments ] && echo "deployments could not be cloned aborting" && exit 1
-
 git clone "$DEPLOYMENTS" _deployments
+[ ! -d _deployments ] && echo "deployments could not be cloned aborting" && exit 1
 
 mkdir -p "_deployments/$SERVICE"