diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_loop.yml b/.github/workflows/build_loop.yml
index 66f3bf643..134d89ae8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_loop.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_loop.yml
@@ -72,10 +72,15 @@ jobs:
         SHA=$(curl -sS \
           -H "Authorization: token ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" \
           https://api.github.com/repos/${{ env.UPSTREAM_REPO }}/git/refs \
-          | jq -r '.[] | select(.ref == "refs/heads/dev" ) | .object.sha' \
+          | jq -r '.[] | select(.ref == "refs/heads/dev" ) | .object.sha // empty' \
           | tr -d '"'
         );
-        
+    
+        if [ -z "$SHA" ]; then
+          echo "Error: SHA for 'dev' branch not found.";
+          exit 1;
+        fi
+    
         # Create alive branch based on LoopKit/LoopWorkspace:dev
         gh api \
           --method POST \