diff --git a/.ci/scripts/go-plus/vcr-cassette-update/vcr_cassette_update.sh b/.ci/scripts/go-plus/vcr-cassette-update/vcr_cassette_update.sh
index 96983e2dbead..8cd247876eed 100755
--- a/.ci/scripts/go-plus/vcr-cassette-update/vcr_cassette_update.sh
+++ b/.ci/scripts/go-plus/vcr-cassette-update/vcr_cassette_update.sh
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ today=$(date +%F)
 
 set +e
 
+echo $SA_KEY > sa_key.json
+gcloud auth activate-service-account $GOOGLE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT --key-file=$local_path/sa_key.json --project=$GOOGLE_PROJECT
+
 # cassette retrieval
 mkdir fixtures
 
@@ -26,9 +29,6 @@ gsutil -m -q cp gs://ci-vcr-cassettes/beta/fixtures/* fixtures/
 # incase nightly run goes wrong. this will be used to restore the cassettes
 gsutil -m -q cp fixtures/* gs://vcr-nightly/beta/$today/$build_id/main_cassettes_back/fixtures/
 
-echo $SA_KEY > sa_key.json
-gcloud auth activate-service-account $GOOGLE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT --key-file=$local_path/sa_key.json --project=$GOOGLE_PROJECT
-
 mkdir testlog
 mkdir testlog/replaying
 mkdir testlog/recording