diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 3346d6424..e3a3f185e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -45,13 +45,7 @@ jobs:
 
           echo "PRIOR_VERSION_WHEN_PATCH=$prior_version_when_patch" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
-        # check out main branch to verify there won't be problems with merging the change log
-        # at the end of this workflow
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: main
-
-      - run: |
+        - run: |
           if [[ -z $PRIOR_VERSION_WHEN_PATCH ]]; then
             # not making a patch release
             if ! grep --quiet "^## Version ${STABLE_VERSION}/${UNSTABLE_VERSION} " CHANGELOG.md; then
@@ -60,6 +54,12 @@ jobs:
             fi
           fi
 
+        # check out main branch to verify there won't be problems with merging the change log
+        # at the end of this workflow
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          ref: main
+
         # back to the release branch
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3