diff --git a/cli/app/undeploy.go b/cli/app/undeploy.go
index cd25b7b5..12aba61c 100644
--- a/cli/app/undeploy.go
+++ b/cli/app/undeploy.go
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ Passing "--prune/-p" does not remove those volumes.`,
 		app := internal.ValidateApp(args)
 		stackName := app.StackName()
 
+		if err := app.Recipe.EnsureExists(); err != nil {
+			log.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
 		cl, err := client.New(app.Server)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/tests/integration/app_undeploy.bats b/tests/integration/app_undeploy.bats
index f44fd287..c991f8ac 100644
--- a/tests/integration/app_undeploy.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/app_undeploy.bats
@@ -30,6 +30,20 @@ teardown(){
   assert_failure
 }
 
+# bats test_tags=slow
+@test "retrieve recipe if missing" {
+  _deploy_app
+
+  run rm -rf "$ABRA_DIR/recipes/$TEST_RECIPE"
+  assert_success
+  assert_not_exists "$ABRA_DIR/recipes/$TEST_RECIPE"
+
+  run $ABRA app undeploy "$TEST_APP_DOMAIN" --no-input
+  assert_success
+
+  assert_exists "$ABRA_DIR/recipes/$TEST_RECIPE"
+}
+
 # bats test_tags=slow
 @test "ensure recipe up to date if no --offline" {
   _deploy_app