diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 957015c..45228b7 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -6978,9 +6978,20 @@ __webpack_require__.r(__webpack_exports__);
         let cli;
         let cliPath;
         let release;
+        try {
+            await fs__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.promises.access('lerna.json');
+            cli = 'lerna';
+            release = lernaRelease;
+            _actions_core__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_0__.info('Lerna detected, releasing using lerna');
+        }
+        catch (_) {
+            cli = 'semantic-release';
+            release = semanticRelease;
+            _actions_core__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_0__.info('Lerna not detected, releasing using semantic-release');
+        }
         try {
             const pkg = JSON.parse((await fs__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.promises.readFile('package.json')).toString());
-            privatePackage = pkg.private || false;
+            privatePackage = cli !== 'lerna' && pkg.private;
             scope = pkg.name.slice(0, pkg.name.indexOf('/'));
             publishToGithub = publish && !privatePackage && scope === ownerScope;
             publishToNPM = publish && !privatePackage && !!npmToken;
@@ -6991,17 +7002,6 @@ __webpack_require__.r(__webpack_exports__);
             publishToGithub = false;
             publishToNPM = false;
         }
-        try {
-            await fs__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.promises.access('lerna.json');
-            cli = 'lerna';
-            release = lernaRelease;
-            _actions_core__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_0__.info('Lerna detected, releasing using lerna');
-        }
-        catch (_) {
-            cli = 'semantic-release';
-            release = semanticRelease;
-            _actions_core__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_0__.info('Lerna not detected, releasing using semantic-release');
-        }
         if (!publish) {
             _actions_core__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_0__.info('Publishing disabled, skipping publishing to package registries');
         }
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 5b84a97..6b2b1c5 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -24,19 +24,6 @@ import { promises as fs } from 'fs'
       env?: { [variable: string]: string }
     ) => Promise<void>
 
-    try {
-      const pkg = JSON.parse((await fs.readFile('package.json')).toString())
-      privatePackage = pkg.private || false
-      scope = pkg.name.slice(0, pkg.name.indexOf('/'))
-      publishToGithub = publish && !privatePackage && scope === ownerScope
-      publishToNPM = publish && !privatePackage && !!npmToken
-    } catch (_) {
-      privatePackage = true
-      scope = ownerScope
-      publishToGithub = false
-      publishToNPM = false
-    }
-
     try {
       await fs.access('lerna.json')
       cli = 'lerna'
@@ -54,6 +41,19 @@ import { promises as fs } from 'fs'
       )
     }
 
+    try {
+      const pkg = JSON.parse((await fs.readFile('package.json')).toString())
+      privatePackage = cli !== 'lerna' && pkg.private
+      scope = pkg.name.slice(0, pkg.name.indexOf('/'))
+      publishToGithub = publish && !privatePackage && scope === ownerScope
+      publishToNPM = publish && !privatePackage && !!npmToken
+    } catch (_) {
+      privatePackage = true
+      scope = ownerScope
+      publishToGithub = false
+      publishToNPM = false
+    }
+
     if (!publish) {
       core.info(
         'Publishing disabled, skipping publishing to package registries'