small code improvements

release-controller/publish_notes.py

@@ -74,13 +74,13 @@ def __init__(self, repo: Repository):
     def ensure_published(self, version: str, changelog: str):
         """Publish the release notes for the given version."""
         branch_name = f"replica-release-notes-{version}"
-        pull_head = f"dfinity:{branch_name}"
-        published_releases = self.repo.get_contents(f"/{REPLICA_RELEASES_DIR}")
         if not isinstance(published_releases, list):
             return
         if any(version in f.path for f in published_releases):
             return
 
+        branch_name = f"replica-release-notes-{version}"
+        pull_head = f"dfinity:{branch_name}"
         if self.repo.get_pulls(head=pull_head, state="open").totalCount > 0:
             return