diff --git a/cli/internal/validate.go b/cli/internal/validate.go
index b95d1da9..6d257723 100644
--- a/cli/internal/validate.go
+++ b/cli/internal/validate.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func ValidateRecipe(c *cli.Context) recipe.Recipe {
 		ShowSubcommandHelpAndError(c, errors.New("no recipe provided"))
 	}
 
-	recipe, err := recipe.Get(recipeName)
+	chosenRecipe, err := recipe.Get(recipeName)
 	if err != nil {
 		if c.Command.Name == "generate" {
 			if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "missing a compose") {
@@ -37,9 +37,13 @@ func ValidateRecipe(c *cli.Context) recipe.Recipe {
 		}
 	}
 
-	logrus.Debugf("validated '%s' as recipe argument", recipeName)
+	if err := recipe.EnsureUpToDate(recipeName); err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
 
-	return recipe
+	logrus.Debugf("validated %s as recipe argument", recipeName)
+
+	return chosenRecipe
 }
 
 // ValidateRecipeWithPrompt ensures a recipe argument is present before
@@ -93,14 +97,18 @@ func ValidateRecipeWithPrompt(c *cli.Context) recipe.Recipe {
 		ShowSubcommandHelpAndError(c, errors.New("no recipe provided"))
 	}
 
-	recipe, err := recipe.Get(recipeName)
+	chosenRecipe, err := recipe.Get(recipeName)
 	if err != nil {
 		logrus.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	if err := recipe.EnsureUpToDate(chosenRecipe.Name); err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	logrus.Debugf("validated %s as recipe argument", recipeName)
 
-	return recipe
+	return chosenRecipe
 }
 
 // ValidateApp ensures the app name arg is valid.
@@ -125,6 +133,10 @@ func ValidateApp(c *cli.Context) config.App {
 		logrus.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	if err := recipe.EnsureUpToDate(app.Type); err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	if err := ssh.EnsureHostKey(app.Server); err != nil {
 		logrus.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/recipe/recipe.go b/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
index a5463ce7..257931b8 100644
--- a/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
+++ b/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ func EnsureVersion(recipeName, version string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// EnsureLatest makes sure the latest commit is checkout on for a local recipe repository.
+// EnsureLatest makes sure the latest commit is checked out for a local recipe repository
 func EnsureLatest(recipeName string) error {
 	recipeDir := path.Join(config.ABRA_DIR, "apps", recipeName)
 
@@ -285,3 +285,37 @@ func GetVersionLabelLocal(recipe Recipe) (string, error) {
 
 	return label, nil
 }
+
+// EnsureUpToDate ensures that the local repo is synced to the remote
+func EnsureUpToDate(recipeName string) error {
+	recipeDir := path.Join(config.ABRA_DIR, "apps", recipeName)
+
+	repo, err := git.PlainOpen(recipeDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	worktree, err := repo.Worktree()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	branch, err := gitPkg.GetCurrentBranch(repo)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	opts := &git.PullOptions{
+		ReferenceName: plumbing.ReferenceName(branch),
+	}
+
+	if err := worktree.Pull(opts); err != nil {
+		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "already up-to-date") {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	logrus.Debugf("fetched latest git changes for %s", recipeName)
+
+	return nil
+}