diff --git a/.readthedocs.yaml b/.readthedocs.yaml
index 7c90a22e9..6ac358c21 100644
--- a/.readthedocs.yaml
+++ b/.readthedocs.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ build:
     pre_install:
       - git update-index --assume-unchanged docs/rtd_environment.yaml docs/conf.py
     post_install:
-      - towncrier build --keep
+      - git describe --exact-match || towncrier build --keep
 
 conda:
   environment: docs/rtd_environment.yaml