diff --git a/.github/actions/is-defined/action.yaml b/.github/actions/is-defined/action.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4f11f55633
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/is-defined/action.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+name: Checks if an input is defined
+
+description: Checks if an input is defined and outputs 'true' or 'false'.
+
+inputs:
+  value:
+    description: value to test
+    required: true
+
+outputs:
+  result:
+    description: outputs 'true' or 'false' if input value is defined or not
+    value: ${{ steps.check.outputs.result }}
+
+runs:
+  using: composite
+  steps:
+    - shell: bash
+      id: check
+      run: |
+        echo "result=${{ inputs.value != '' }}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-update.yaml b/.github/workflows/pr-update.yaml
index 4cff14021b..525d310544 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-update.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-update.yaml
@@ -7,8 +7,20 @@ on:
       - 'release-*'
 
 jobs:
+  checksecret:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    outputs:
+      result: ${{ steps.check.outputs.result }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Check secret
+        id: check
+        uses: ./.github/actions/is-defined
+        with:
+          value: ${{ secrets.PR_UPDATE_TOKEN }}
+
   autoupdate:
-    if: ${{ secrets.PR_UPDATE_TOKEN }}
+    needs: [checksecret]
+    if: needs.checksecret.outputs.result == 'true'
     permissions:
       pull-requests: write
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest