diff --git a/sickbeard/versionChecker.py b/sickbeard/versionChecker.py
index 164be84e..8f101e70 100644
--- a/sickbeard/versionChecker.py
+++ b/sickbeard/versionChecker.py
@@ -577,17 +577,17 @@ class SourceUpdateManager(UpdateManager):
         return ""
         
     def need_update(self):
-
-        if self.branch != self._find_installed_branch():
-            logger.log(u"Branch checkout: " + self._find_installed_branch() + "->" + self.branch, logger.DEBUG)
-            return True
-
+        # need this to run first to set self._newest_commit_hash
         try:
             self._check_github_for_update()
         except Exception, e:
             logger.log(u"Unable to contact github, can't check for update: " + repr(e), logger.ERROR)
             return False
 
+        if self.branch != self._find_installed_branch():
+            logger.log(u"Branch checkout: " + self._find_installed_branch() + "->" + self.branch, logger.DEBUG)
+            return True
+
         if not self._cur_commit_hash or self._num_commits_behind > 0:
             return True