diff --git a/scripts/bower/publish.sh b/scripts/bower/publish.sh
index d47138c13..99bd114ec 100755
--- a/scripts/bower/publish.sh
+++ b/scripts/bower/publish.sh
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ function init {
     angular-scenario
     angular-touch
   )
+  # get the npm dist-tag from a custom property (distTag) in package.json
+  DIST_TAG=$(readJsonProp "package.json" "distTag")
 }
 
 
@@ -108,8 +110,6 @@ function publish {
 
     # don't publish every build to npm
     if [ "${NEW_VERSION/+sha}" = "$NEW_VERSION" ] ; then
-      # get the npm dist-tag from a custom property (distTag) in package.json
-      DIST_TAG=$(readJsonProp "package.json" "distTag")
       echo "-- Publishing to npm as $DIST_TAG"
       npm publish --tag=$DIST_TAG
     fi