diff --git a/cli/app/logs.go b/cli/app/logs.go
index 5c60f3245..b1566f3fa 100644
--- a/cli/app/logs.go
+++ b/cli/app/logs.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/autocomplete"
 	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/client"
 	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/config"
+	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/recipe"
 	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/service"
 	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/upstream/stack"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
@@ -86,6 +87,10 @@ var appLogsCommand = cli.Command{
 		app := internal.ValidateApp(c)
 		stackName := app.StackName()
 
+		if err := recipe.EnsureExists(app.Recipe); err != nil {
+			logrus.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
 		cl, err := client.New(app.Server)
 		if err != nil {
 			logrus.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/tests/integration/app_logs.bats b/tests/integration/app_logs.bats
index 4b5e3f508..8760fdcc8 100644
--- a/tests/integration/app_logs.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/app_logs.bats
@@ -32,3 +32,15 @@ setup(){
   assert_failure
   assert_output --partial 'is not deployed'
 }
+
+@test "retrieve recipe if missing" {
+  run rm -rf "$ABRA_DIR/recipes/$TEST_RECIPE"
+  assert_success
+  assert_not_exists "$ABRA_DIR/recipes/$TEST_RECIPE"
+
+  run $ABRA app logs "$TEST_APP_DOMAIN"
+  assert_failure
+  assert_output --partial 'is not deployed'
+
+  assert_exists "$ABRA_DIR/recipes/$TEST_RECIPE"
+}