diff --git a/doCheckout.go b/doCheckout.go
index 85e4fdb..2946500 100644
--- a/doCheckout.go
+++ b/doCheckout.go
@@ -179,15 +179,15 @@ func rillCheckoutMaster(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
 		repo.CheckoutMaster()
 		return nil
 	}
-	if repo.GetUserVersion() != repo.GetDevelVersion() {
-		// don't switch branches if the user branch has uncommitted patches
-		return nil
-	}
 	if me.forge.Config.IsReadOnly(repo.GetGoPath()) {
 		// skip other checks for readonly repos
 		repo.CheckoutMaster()
 		return nil
 	}
+	if repo.GetUserVersion() != repo.GetDevelVersion() {
+		// don't switch branches if the user branch has uncommitted patches
+		return nil
+	}
 	if repo.GetDevelVersion() != repo.GetMasterVersion() {
 		// don't switch braches if the devel branch does not match master (needs merge)
 		return nil