diff --git a/workers/cache/gitea_tools.go b/workers/cache/gitea_tools.go
index 58507370..2eda4a2b 100644
--- a/workers/cache/gitea_tools.go
+++ b/workers/cache/gitea_tools.go
@@ -185,14 +185,15 @@ func getTools(ctx context.Context, metadataURL string, useInternal bool) ([]comm
 			slog.ErrorContext(ctx, "failed to get tools from metadata URL", "error", err)
 			if metadataURL != appdefaults.GiteaRunnerReleasesURL {
 				slog.InfoContext(ctx, "attempting to get tools from default upstream", "tools_url", appdefaults.GiteaRunnerReleasesURL)
-				latest, err = getReleasesFromURL(ctx, metadataURL)
-				if err != nil {
-					return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get upstream tools: %w", err)
-				}
+				latest, err = getReleasesFromURL(ctx, appdefaults.GiteaRunnerReleasesURL)
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get tools: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	ret := []commonParams.RunnerApplicationDownload{}
 
 	for _, asset := range latest.Assets {