diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy-java.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy-java.yml
index dd8cd0b..26d1682 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy-java.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy-java.yml
@@ -39,13 +39,13 @@ jobs:
           git fetch origin main
           LAST_VERSION=$(git show origin/main:integrations/java/pom.xml | grep -m1 '<version>' | sed -E 's/.*<version>([^<]+)<\/version>.*/\1/')
           echo "LAST_VERSION: $LAST_VERSION"
-          if [ "$LAST_VERSION" == "$VERSION" ]; then
-            echo "Version did not change. Exiting..."
+          if [ -z "$LAST_VERSION" ] || [ "$LAST_VERSION" == "$VERSION" ]; then
+            echo "Version did not change or no previous version found. Skipping deployment."
             exit 0
           fi
 
       - name: Build and deploy
-        if: steps.version_check.outputs.VERSION != steps.get_version.outputs.VERSION
+        if: steps.version_check.outputs.LAST_VERSION != steps.get_version.outputs.VERSION || steps.version_check.outputs.LAST_VERSION == ""
         run: |
           mvn -f integrations/java/pom.xml deploy \
             -DskipTests \