diff --git a/cli/recipe/sync.go b/cli/recipe/sync.go
index 5e474743..226b154e 100644
--- a/cli/recipe/sync.go
+++ b/cli/recipe/sync.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package recipe
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -19,6 +20,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
+// Errors
+var emptyVersionsInCatalogue = errors.New("Catalogue versions list is empty (unexpectedly!)")
+
 // translators: `abra recipe reset` aliases. use a comma separated list of
 // aliases with no spaces in between
 var recipeSyncAliases = i18n.G("s")
@@ -121,20 +125,18 @@ likely to change.
 				log.Fatal(err)
 			}
 
-			versions, err := recipePkg.GetRecipeCatalogueVersions(recipe.Name, catl)
-			if err != nil {
-				log.Fatal(err)
-			}
-
 			changesTable, err := formatter.CreateTable()
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Fatal(err)
 			}
 
 			latestRelease := tags[len(tags)-1]
+			latestRecipeVersion, err := getLatestVersion(recipe, catl)
+			if err != nil && err != emptyVersionsInCatalogue {
+				log.Fatal(err)
+			}
 			changesTable.Headers(i18n.G("SERVICE"), latestRelease, i18n.G("PROPOSED CHANGES"))
 
-			latestRecipeVersion := versions[len(versions)-1]
 			allRecipeVersions := catl[recipe.Name].Versions
 			for _, recipeVersion := range allRecipeVersions {
 				if serviceVersions, ok := recipeVersion[latestRecipeVersion]; ok {
@@ -298,3 +300,14 @@ func init() {
 		i18n.G("increase the patch part of the version"),
 	)
 }
+
+func getLatestVersion(recipe recipePkg.Recipe, catl recipePkg.RecipeCatalogue) (string, error) {
+	versions, err := recipePkg.GetRecipeCatalogueVersions(recipe.Name, catl)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	if len(versions) > 0 {
+		return versions[len(versions)-1], nil
+	}
+	return "", emptyVersionsInCatalogue
+}
diff --git a/cli/recipe/sync_test.go b/cli/recipe/sync_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2e5df357
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/recipe/sync_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package recipe
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	recipePkg "coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/recipe"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestGetLatestVersionReturnsErrorWhenVersionsIsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	recipe := recipePkg.Recipe{}
+	catalogue := recipePkg.RecipeCatalogue{}
+	_, err := getLatestVersion(recipe, catalogue)
+	assert.Equal(t, err, emptyVersionsInCatalogue)
+}
+
+func TestGetLatestVersionReturnsLastVersion(t *testing.T) {
+	recipe := recipePkg.Recipe{
+		Name: "test",
+	}
+	versions := []map[string]map[string]recipePkg.ServiceMeta{
+		make(map[string]map[string]recipePkg.ServiceMeta),
+		make(map[string]map[string]recipePkg.ServiceMeta),
+	}
+	versions[0]["0.0.3"] = make(map[string]recipePkg.ServiceMeta)
+	versions[1]["0.0.2"] = make(map[string]recipePkg.ServiceMeta)
+	catalogue := make(recipePkg.RecipeCatalogue)
+	catalogue["test"] = recipePkg.RecipeMeta{
+		Versions: versions,
+	}
+	version, _ := getLatestVersion(recipe, catalogue)
+	assert.Equal(t, version, "0.0.3")
+}