diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-repo.yml b/.github/workflows/build-repo.yml
index e6e0b53..f11c267 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-repo.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-repo.yml
@@ -58,9 +58,11 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Download and Patch beta PKGBUILDs
-        if: matrix.repo == 'lizardbyte-beta'
+        if: matrix.release_name == 'beta'
         run: |
           # we don't want any stable packages to be built, so remove them
           rm -rf pkgbuilds
@@ -163,6 +165,13 @@ jobs:
 
           build-pacman-repo build
 
+          # ensure files are present in the repo
+          repo_files=$(ls repo)
+          if [[ -z "${repo_files}" ]]; then
+              echo "::error:: No files found in repo"
+              exit 1
+          fi
+
       - name: Create/Update GitHub Release
         if: github.event_name == 'schedule' || github.event_name == 'push'
         uses: ncipollo/release-action@v1.14.0