diff --git a/lib/workers/branch/lock-files.js b/lib/workers/branch/lock-files.js
index bfb1365a1caa816a60170235dead2b4c2b63bc2e..1feae67a768539d26a18c17262f86d436bf16425 100644
--- a/lib/workers/branch/lock-files.js
+++ b/lib/workers/branch/lock-files.js
@@ -257,7 +257,8 @@ async function getUpdatedLockFiles(config) {
   const updatedLockFiles = [];
   if (
     config.type === 'lockFileMaintenance' &&
-    (await platform.branchExists(config.branchName))
+    (await platform.branchExists(config.branchName)) &&
+    !await platform.isBranchStale(config.branchName)
   ) {
     return { lockFileErrors, updatedLockFiles };
   }