diff --git a/MODULE.bazel b/MODULE.bazel
index 07459daa..3f9eeefc 100644
--- a/MODULE.bazel
+++ b/MODULE.bazel
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 module(
     name = "score_docs_as_code",
-    version = "2.0.0",
+    version = "2.0.1",
     compatibility_level = 2,
 )
 
diff --git a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/external_needs.py b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/external_needs.py
index 8e8208a0..0c48a56a 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/external_needs.py
+++ b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/external_needs.py
@@ -179,9 +179,6 @@ def add_external_needs_json(e: ExternalNeedsSource, config: Config):
         )
         # Attempt to continue, exit code will be non-zero after a logged error anyway.
         return
-    # this sets the default value - required for the needs-config-writer
-    # setting 'needscfg_exclude_defaults = True' to see the diff
-    config.needs_external_needs = []
     assert isinstance(config.needs_external_needs, list)  # pyright: ignore[reportUnknownMemberType]
     config.needs_external_needs.append(  # pyright: ignore[reportUnknownMemberType]
         {
@@ -217,6 +214,10 @@ def connect_external_needs(app: Sphinx, config: Config):
 
     external_needs = get_external_needs_source(app.config.external_needs_source)
 
+    # this sets the default value - required for the needs-config-writer
+    # setting 'needscfg_exclude_defaults = True' to see the diff
+    config.needs_external_needs = []
+
     for e in external_needs:
         assert not e.path_to_target  # path_to_target is always empty