diff --git a/lib/fastlane/plugin/wpmreleasetoolkit/actions/configure/configure_apply_action.rb b/lib/fastlane/plugin/wpmreleasetoolkit/actions/configure/configure_apply_action.rb
index fb89bde9d..1e5c2504f 100644
--- a/lib/fastlane/plugin/wpmreleasetoolkit/actions/configure/configure_apply_action.rb
+++ b/lib/fastlane/plugin/wpmreleasetoolkit/actions/configure/configure_apply_action.rb
@@ -10,11 +10,10 @@ module Fastlane
   module Actions
     class ConfigureApplyAction < Action
       def self.run(params = {})
-        # Preflight
-        UI.user_error!('Decryption key could not be found') if Fastlane::Helper::ConfigureHelper.encryption_key.nil?
-
         # Checkout the right commit hash etc. before applying the configuration
         prepare_repository do
+          UI.user_error!('Decryption key could not be found') if Fastlane::Helper::ConfigureHelper.encryption_key.nil?
+
           # Copy/decrypt the files
           files_to_copy.each do |file_reference|
             apply_file(file_reference, params[:force])