diff --git a/dc-ops b/dc-ops
index 34ef7c1..b354e28 100755
--- a/dc-ops
+++ b/dc-ops
@@ -40,6 +40,44 @@ def run_subprocess(command: str, workdir: str) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
+def update_git_repo(repo: str) -> bool:
+    """update repo and check for new commits
+
+    Args:
+        repo (str): path to git repo
+
+    Returns:
+        bool: False if any step fails
+    """
+    # create repo instance if it exists
+    try:
+        repo = Repo(stackdir)
+    except NoSuchPathError:
+        log.error("directory not found")
+        return False
+
+    # try to fetch latest changes
+    try:
+        repo.git.fetch()
+    except GitCommandError as e:
+        log.error(str(e))
+        return False
+
+    # check for new commits
+    if repo.rev_parse("HEAD") == repo.rev_parse(f"origin/{repo.active_branch}"):
+        log.info("no changes - skipping")
+        return False
+
+    # pull remote changes to local branch
+    try:
+        log.info(repo.git.pull())
+    except GitCommandError as e:
+        log.error(str(e))
+        return False
+
+    return True
+
+
 # iterate all stacks
 for stack in cfg["stacks"]:
     # skip disabled stacks
@@ -50,30 +88,8 @@ for stack in cfg["stacks"]:
     stackdir = stack["dir"]
     log.info(f"* processing {stackdir}")
 
-    # create repo instance if it exists
-    try:
-        repo = Repo(stackdir)
-    except NoSuchPathError:
-        log.error("directory not found")
-        continue
-
-    # try to fetch latest changes
-    try:
-        repo.git.fetch()
-    except GitCommandError as e:
-        log.error(str(e))
-        continue
-
-    # check for new commits
-    if repo.rev_parse("HEAD") == repo.rev_parse(f"origin/{repo.active_branch}"):
-        log.info("no changes - skipping")
-        continue
-
-    # pull remote changes to local branch
-    try:
-        log.info(repo.git.pull())
-    except GitCommandError as e:
-        log.error(str(e))
+    # update repo and check for new commits
+    if not update_git_repo(stackdir):
         continue
 
     # run pre-command