diff --git a/cmd_publish.go b/cmd_publish.go
index 47ef2f3f..3ba7aec7 100644
--- a/cmd_publish.go
+++ b/cmd_publish.go
@@ -81,7 +81,9 @@ func aptlyPublishSnapshot(cmd *commander.Command, args []string) error {
 	if distribution == "" {
 		if sourceRepo != nil {
 			distribution = sourceRepo.Distribution
-		} else {
+		}
+
+		if distribution == "" {
 			return fmt.Errorf("unable to guess distribution name, please specify explicitly")
 		}
 	}