diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-update-cloudfoundry-index.yml b/.github/workflows/release-update-cloudfoundry-index.yml
index 3b31584671..0569dc0fa5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-update-cloudfoundry-index.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-update-cloudfoundry-index.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
 
+        # need to run this script before we switch branches
+        # since the script doesn't exist on the cloudfoundry branch
+      - name: Use CLA approved github bot
+        run: .github/scripts/use-cla-approved-github-bot.sh
+
       - uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
         with:
           ref: 'cloudfoundry'
@@ -39,9 +44,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: display changes
         run: git diff
 
-      - name: Use CLA approved bot
-        run: .github/scripts/use-cla-approved-bot.sh
-
       - uses: actions/create-github-app-token@67e27a7eb7db372a1c61a7f9bdab8699e9ee57f7 # v1.11.3
         id: otelbot-token
         with: