diff --git a/lib/workers/repository/update/branch/index.ts b/lib/workers/repository/update/branch/index.ts
index 8c145295ba2d31..050ce7403f71e6 100644
--- a/lib/workers/repository/update/branch/index.ts
+++ b/lib/workers/repository/update/branch/index.ts
@@ -171,6 +171,17 @@ export async function processBranch(
         result: 'already-existed',
       };
     }
+    if (
+      !branchExists &&
+      branchConfig.pendingChecks &&
+      !dependencyDashboardCheck
+    ) {
+      return {
+        branchExists: false,
+        prNo: branchPr?.number,
+        result: 'pending',
+      };
+    }
     // istanbul ignore if
     if (!branchExists && config.dependencyDashboardApproval) {
       if (dependencyDashboardCheck) {
@@ -209,17 +220,6 @@ export async function processBranch(
         result: 'commit-limit-reached',
       };
     }
-    if (
-      !branchExists &&
-      branchConfig.pendingChecks &&
-      !dependencyDashboardCheck
-    ) {
-      return {
-        branchExists: false,
-        prNo: branchPr?.number,
-        result: 'pending',
-      };
-    }
     if (branchExists) {
       // check if branch is labelled to stop
       config.stopUpdating = branchPr?.labels?.includes(