diff --git a/substrate/.maintain/gitlab/check_polkadot_companion_status.sh b/substrate/.maintain/gitlab/check_polkadot_companion_status.sh
index bfd27e6347..e0412c7b7b 100755
--- a/substrate/.maintain/gitlab/check_polkadot_companion_status.sh
+++ b/substrate/.maintain/gitlab/check_polkadot_companion_status.sh
@@ -58,6 +58,12 @@ boldprint "companion pr: #${pr_companion}"
 # check the status of that pull request - needs to be
 # approved and mergable
 
+curl -H "${github_header}" -sS -o companion_pr.json \
+  ${github_api_polkadot_pull_url}/${pr_companion}
+
+pr_head_sha=$(jq -r -e '.head.sha' < companion_pr.json)
+boldprint "Polkadot PR's HEAD SHA: $pr_head_sha"
+
 curl -H "${github_header}" -sS -o companion_pr_reviews.json \
   ${github_api_polkadot_pull_url}/${pr_companion}/reviews
 
@@ -79,12 +85,6 @@ fi
 
 boldprint "polkadot pr #${pr_companion} state APPROVED"
 
-curl -H "${github_header}" -sS -o companion_pr.json \
-  ${github_api_polkadot_pull_url}/${pr_companion}
-
-pr_head_sha=$(jq -r -e '.head.sha' < companion_pr.json)
-boldprint "Polkadot PR's HEAD SHA: $pr_head_sha"
-
 if jq -e .merged < companion_pr.json >/dev/null
 then
   boldprint "polkadot pr #${pr_companion} already merged"