diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index 7449e43..f8cd1e7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ jobs:
         owner: ${{github.repository_owner}}
         repo: ${{github.event.repository.name}}
         branch: ${{ github.sha }}
-        compare_to_version: ${{steps.v_latest.outputs.version}}
+        compare_to_version: ${{steps.v_latest.outputs.version || '0.0.0'}}
 
     - name: 'Trigger the ''publish'' workflow if newer version' 
       if: ${{ !!env.PAT && steps.v_master.outputs.compare_result == '1' }}