diff --git a/cli/recipe/sync.go b/cli/recipe/sync.go
index 5e4747437..5e303493a 100644
--- a/cli/recipe/sync.go
+++ b/cli/recipe/sync.go
@@ -121,20 +121,15 @@ likely to change.
 				log.Fatal(err)
 			}
 
-			versions, err := recipePkg.GetRecipeCatalogueVersions(recipe.Name, catl)
-			if err != nil {
-				log.Fatal(err)
-			}
-
 			changesTable, err := formatter.CreateTable()
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Fatal(err)
 			}
 
 			latestRelease := tags[len(tags)-1]
+			latestRecipeVersion := getLatestVersion(recipe, catl)
 			changesTable.Headers(i18n.G("SERVICE"), latestRelease, i18n.G("PROPOSED CHANGES"))
 
-			latestRecipeVersion := versions[len(versions)-1]
 			allRecipeVersions := catl[recipe.Name].Versions
 			for _, recipeVersion := range allRecipeVersions {
 				if serviceVersions, ok := recipeVersion[latestRecipeVersion]; ok {
@@ -298,3 +293,15 @@ func init() {
 		i18n.G("increase the patch part of the version"),
 	)
 }
+
+func getLatestVersion(recipe recipePkg.Recipe, catl recipePkg.RecipeCatalogue) string {
+	versions, err := recipePkg.GetRecipeCatalogueVersions(recipe.Name, catl)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	latestRecipeVersion := "0.0.0"
+	if len(versions) > 0 {
+		latestRecipeVersion = versions[len(versions)-1]
+	}
+	return latestRecipeVersion
+}
diff --git a/cli/recipe/sync_test.go b/cli/recipe/sync_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ffe9965b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/recipe/sync_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package recipe
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	recipePkg "coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/recipe"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestGetLatestVersionReturnsDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	recipe := recipePkg.Recipe{}
+	catalogue := recipePkg.RecipeCatalogue{}
+	version := getLatestVersion(recipe, catalogue)
+	assert.Equal(t, version, "0.0.0")
+}
+
+func TestGetLatestVersionReturnsLastVersion(t *testing.T) {
+	recipe := recipePkg.Recipe{
+		Name: "test",
+	}
+	versions := []map[string]map[string]recipePkg.ServiceMeta{
+		make(map[string]map[string]recipePkg.ServiceMeta),
+		make(map[string]map[string]recipePkg.ServiceMeta),
+	}
+	versions[0]["0.0.3"] = make(map[string]recipePkg.ServiceMeta)
+	versions[1]["0.0.2"] = make(map[string]recipePkg.ServiceMeta)
+	catalogue := make(recipePkg.RecipeCatalogue)
+	catalogue["test"] = recipePkg.RecipeMeta{
+		Versions: versions,
+	}
+	version := getLatestVersion(recipe, catalogue)
+	assert.Equal(t, version, "0.0.3")
+}