diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index d7fc5982..4b58fc46 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@ generate_readme_job:
         exit 0
       fi
     - python scripts/generate_readme.py
-    - git diff --exit-code || echo "Changes detected!"
+    - export NEEDS_UPDATE="false"
+    - git diff --exit-code || export NEEDS_UPDATE="true"
     - git config --global user.email "ci@gitlab.ms-ds.org"
     - git config --global user.name "GitLab CI"
     - |
-      if ! git diff --cached --quiet; then
+      if [ $NEEDS_UPDATE = "true" ]; then
         git add README.md
         git commit -m "Auto-updated README"
         git push origin main