diff --git a/.gitea/scripts/sop-checklist.py b/.gitea/scripts/sop-checklist.py
index c6eb0f05..7edc7307 100644
--- a/.gitea/scripts/sop-checklist.py
+++ b/.gitea/scripts/sop-checklist.py
@@ -984,6 +984,8 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
             status_flag = "valid" if entry["valid"] else f"invalid: {entry['error']}"
             print(f"::notice::    {g}: declared by {entry['declared_by']} — {status_flag}")
 
+    target_url = f"https://{args.gitea_host}/{args.owner}/{args.repo}/pulls/{args.pr}"
+
     if not args.dry_run:
         na_context = "sop-checklist / na-declarations (pull_request)"
         client.post_status(
@@ -996,8 +998,6 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
 
     print(f"::notice::posting status: state={state} desc={description!r}")
 
-    target_url = f"https://{args.gitea_host}/{args.owner}/{args.repo}/pulls/{args.pr}"
-
     if args.dry_run:
         print("::notice::--dry-run: not posting status")
         if args.exit_on_state: