diff --git a/common/flatpak-dir.c b/common/flatpak-dir.c
index 9a97a341..06fbe957 100644
--- a/common/flatpak-dir.c
+++ b/common/flatpak-dir.c
@@ -3052,6 +3052,9 @@ flatpak_dir_install (FlatpakDir          *self,
       else
         subpaths = empty_subpaths;
 
+      if (!flatpak_dir_ensure_repo (self, cancellable, error))
+        return FALSE;
+
       if (!ostree_repo_remote_get_url (self->repo,
                                        remote_name,
                                        &url,
@@ -3288,6 +3291,9 @@ flatpak_dir_update (FlatpakDir          *self,
       system_helper = flatpak_dir_get_system_helper (self);
       g_assert (system_helper != NULL);
 
+      if (!flatpak_dir_ensure_repo (self, cancellable, error))
+        return FALSE;
+
       if (!ostree_repo_remote_get_url (self->repo,
                                        remote_name,
                                        &url,