diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/APP_NAME-build.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/APP_NAME-build.yaml
index 10d213b..643e379 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/APP_NAME-build.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/APP_NAME-build.yaml
@@ -237,7 +237,10 @@ jobs:
         # STATUS (formato inesperado) cae al branch no-op → comportamiento idéntico
         # al actual, nunca peor.
         run: |
-          STATUS="$(helm status __APP_NAME__ -n apps 2>/dev/null | sed -n 's/^STATUS: //p')"
+          # `helm status` de un release inexistente (first-deploy frío) sale con
+          # exit≠0; bajo el shell del runner (`bash -e -o pipefail`) eso abortaría
+          # el step ANTES del case. `|| true` lo neutraliza → STATUS="" → branch no-op.
+          STATUS="$(helm status __APP_NAME__ -n apps 2>/dev/null | sed -n 's/^STATUS: //p')" || true
           echo "Estado actual del release __APP_NAME__: ${STATUS:-<no existe>}"
           case "$STATUS" in
             pending-install|uninstalling)