diff --git a/pkg/recipe/recipe.go b/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
index 09453aa6..8aa8bba4 100644
--- a/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
+++ b/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
@@ -309,6 +309,16 @@ func EnsureUpToDate(recipeName string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	remotes, err := repo.Remotes()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if len(remotes) == 0 {
+		logrus.Debugf("cannot ensure %s is up-to-date, no git remotes configured", recipeName)
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	opts := &git.PullOptions{
 		ReferenceName: plumbing.ReferenceName(branch),
 	}