diff --git a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/cli.py b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/cli.py
index 07ad346..c75d598 100644
--- a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/cli.py
+++ b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/cli.py
@@ -120,12 +120,14 @@ def cli():
     else:
         token = os.getenv('MBD_TOKEN')
 
-    """if there is a remote blocklist provided load this instead of fetching it from a server (for debugging reasons)"""
-    if args.remote_blocklist:
-        with open(args.remote_blocklist) as f:
-            remote_blocklist = blocklist_json_to_instances(json.load(f))
-    else:
-        remote_blocklist = load_blocklist_from_instance(server=args.server, token=token)
+    """Get a remote blocklist only when necessary"""
+    if args.action in ["diff", "deploy"]:
+        """if there is a remote blocklist provided load this instead of fetching it from a server (for debugging reasons)"""
+        if args.remote_blocklist:
+            with open(args.remote_blocklist) as f:
+                remote_blocklist = blocklist_json_to_instances(json.load(f))
+        else:
+            remote_blocklist = load_blocklist_from_instance(server=args.server, token=token)
 
     """Load local blocklist only when needed"""
     if args.action in ["diff", "deploy", "merge"]: