diff --git a/pkg/recipe/recipe.go b/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
index 14661215..ddb6a5ba 100644
--- a/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
+++ b/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package recipe
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
@@ -11,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
 
 	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/catalogue"
 	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/compose"
@@ -660,51 +658,6 @@ func EnsureUpToDate(recipeName string, conf *runtime.Config) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-type CatalogueOfflineError struct {
-	msg string
-}
-
-func (e *CatalogueOfflineError) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("catalogue offline: %s", e.msg)
-}
-
-// recipeCatalogueFSIsLatest checks whether the recipe catalogue stored locally
-// is up to date.
-func recipeCatalogueFSIsLatest() (bool, error) {
-	httpClient := web.NewHTTPRetryClient()
-	res, err := httpClient.Head(RecipeCatalogueURL)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, &CatalogueOfflineError{err.Error()}
-	}
-
-	lastModified := res.Header["Last-Modified"][0]
-	parsed, err := time.Parse(time.RFC1123, lastModified)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
-	}
-
-	info, err := os.Stat(config.RECIPES_JSON)
-	if err != nil {
-		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-			logrus.Debugf("no recipe catalogue found in file system cache")
-			return false, nil
-		}
-		return false, err
-	}
-
-	localModifiedTime := info.ModTime().Unix()
-	remoteModifiedTime := parsed.Unix()
-
-	if localModifiedTime < remoteModifiedTime {
-		logrus.Debug("file system cached recipe catalogue is out-of-date")
-		return false, nil
-	}
-
-	logrus.Debug("file system cached recipe catalogue is up-to-date")
-
-	return true, nil
-}
-
 // ReadRecipeCatalogue reads the recipe catalogue.
 func ReadRecipeCatalogue() (RecipeCatalogue, error) {
 	recipes := make(RecipeCatalogue)
@@ -713,23 +666,8 @@ func ReadRecipeCatalogue() (RecipeCatalogue, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	recipeFSIsLatest, err := recipeCatalogueFSIsLatest()
-	if err != nil {
-		var offlineErr *CatalogueOfflineError
-		if errors.As(err, &offlineErr) {
-			logrus.Error(err)
-			logrus.Error("unable to retrieve catalogue from internet, using local copy.")
-			recipeFSIsLatest = true
-		} else {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-	}
-
-	if !recipeFSIsLatest {
-		if err := readRecipeCatalogueWeb(&recipes); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		return recipes, nil
+	if err := catalogue.EnsureUpToDate(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	if err := readRecipeCatalogueFS(&recipes); err != nil {
@@ -755,26 +693,6 @@ func readRecipeCatalogueFS(target interface{}) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// readRecipeCatalogueWeb reads the catalogue from the web.
-func readRecipeCatalogueWeb(target interface{}) error {
-	if err := web.ReadJSON(RecipeCatalogueURL, &target); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	recipesJSON, err := json.MarshalIndent(target, "", "    ")
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if err := ioutil.WriteFile(config.RECIPES_JSON, recipesJSON, 0764); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	logrus.Debugf("read recipe catalogue from web at %s", RecipeCatalogueURL)
-
-	return nil
-}
-
 // VersionsOfService lists the version of a service.
 func VersionsOfService(recipe, serviceName string) ([]string, error) {
 	var versions []string
@@ -1076,7 +994,9 @@ func GetRecipeCatalogueVersions(recipeName string, catl RecipeCatalogue) ([]stri
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
 	sortVersionStrings(versions)
+
 	return versions, nil
 }