diff --git a/cli/internal/deploy.go b/cli/internal/deploy.go
index 726025be..0c741762 100644
--- a/cli/internal/deploy.go
+++ b/cli/internal/deploy.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func DeployAction(c *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 
 	version := deployedVersion
-	if version == "" && !Chaos {
+	if version == "unknown" && !Chaos {
 		catl, err := recipe.ReadRecipeCatalogue()
 		if err != nil {
 			logrus.Fatal(err)
@@ -86,14 +86,14 @@ func DeployAction(c *cli.Context) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if version == "" && !Chaos {
+	if version == "unknown" && !Chaos {
 		logrus.Debugf("choosing %s as version to deploy", version)
 		if err := recipe.EnsureVersion(app.Type, version); err != nil {
 			logrus.Fatal(err)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if version != "" && !Chaos {
+	if version != "unknown" && !Chaos {
 		if err := recipe.EnsureVersion(app.Type, version); err != nil {
 			logrus.Fatal(err)
 		}