diff --git a/gitlab/deploy.sh b/gitlab/deploy.sh
index 34b1ca2372e35333c200e5188de5c57fd133f73c..1a8c1202f4629751a2e35c378ec54157334733e3 100755
--- a/gitlab/deploy.sh
+++ b/gitlab/deploy.sh
@@ -55,5 +55,6 @@ condaforge_packages=("bob" \
 "bob.db.iris")
 
 if contains_element ${CI_PROJECT_NAME}  "${condaforge_packages[@]}"; then
+  run_cmd ${CONDA_FOLDER}/bin/conda update -n root --yes conda-smithy
   run_cmd ${CONDA_FOLDER}/bin/python _ci/update_feedstock.py ${CI_PROJECT_NAME}
 fi