diff --git a/clone.go b/clone.go
index ca6be35..9b5ec33 100644
--- a/clone.go
+++ b/clone.go
@@ -55,15 +55,17 @@ func recursiveClone(check *gitpb.Repo) error {
 	}
 	log.Info("STARTING RECURSIVE CLONE", check.GetGoPath())
 	log.Info("STARTING RECURSIVE CLONE", check.GetGoPath())
-	if check.GoInfo.GoPrimitive {
-		log.Info("repo is a primitive", check.GetGoPath())
+	// if just cloned, parse the go.sum file for deps
+	if check.ParseGoSum() {
+	} else {
+		makeValidGoSum(check)
+	}
+	if check.GetGoPrimitive() {
 		// go primitive repos are "pure"
+		log.Info("repo is primitive", check.GetGoPath())
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// if just cloned, parse the go.sum file for deps
-	check.ParseGoSum()
-
 	if check.GoDeps == nil {
 		log.Info("repo godeps == nil", check.GetGoPath())
 		return errors.New("go.sum is missing?")
@@ -108,17 +110,23 @@ func makeValidGoSum(check *gitpb.Repo) error {
 	// attempt to grab the notes
 	check.Run([]string{"git", "fetch", "origin", "refs/notes/*:refs/notes/*"})
 
-	// first try to generate go.mod & go.sum with go-mod-clean
-	if err := check.ValidGoSum(); err != nil {
-		log.Info("try running go-mod-clean")
-		// update go.sum and go.mod
-		if err := check.RunStrict([]string{"go-mod-clean"}); err != nil {
-			log.Info("")
-			log.Info("Do you have go-mod-clean? Otherwise:")
-			log.Info("  go install go.wit.com/apps/go-mod-clean@latest")
-			log.Info("")
-		}
+	if check.ParseGoSum() {
+		return nil
 	}
+
+	log.Info("try running go-mod-clean")
+	// update go.sum and go.mod
+	if err := check.RunStrict([]string{"go-mod-clean"}); err != nil {
+		log.Info("")
+		log.Info("Do you have go-mod-clean? Otherwise:")
+		log.Info("  go install go.wit.com/apps/go-mod-clean@latest")
+		log.Info("")
+	}
+
+	if check.ParseGoSum() {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// if this fails, just use go mod
 	if err := check.ValidGoSum(); err != nil {
 		cmd := []string{"go", "mod", "init", check.GetGoPath()}
@@ -129,13 +137,10 @@ func makeValidGoSum(check *gitpb.Repo) error {
 		if err := check.RunStrict([]string{"go", "mod", "tidy"}); err != nil {
 			log.Info("go mod tidy failed", err)
 		}
-		panic("fucknuts")
 	}
-	if err := check.ValidGoSum(); err != nil {
-		// have to give up. can't recursive clone without go.mod file
-		log.Info("could not generate valid go.sum file")
-		return errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("could have been %v", err))
+	if check.ParseGoSum() {
+		return nil
 	}
-	check.ParseGoSum()
-	return nil
+
+	return fmt.Errorf("could not make a valid go.mod")
 }