diff --git a/cli/internal/validate.go b/cli/internal/validate.go
index a41063fe..432234bf 100644
--- a/cli/internal/validate.go
+++ b/cli/internal/validate.go
@@ -100,17 +100,17 @@ func ValidateRecipeWithPrompt(c *cli.Context, ensureLatest bool) recipe.Recipe {
 		ShowSubcommandHelpAndError(c, errors.New("no recipe name provided"))
 	}
 
+	chosenRecipe, err := recipe.Get(recipeName)
+	if err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	if ensureLatest {
 		if err := recipe.EnsureLatest(recipeName); err != nil {
 			logrus.Fatal(err)
 		}
 	}
 
-	chosenRecipe, err := recipe.Get(recipeName)
-	if err != nil {
-		logrus.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
 	logrus.Debugf("validated %s as recipe argument", recipeName)
 
 	return chosenRecipe