diff --git a/doorUpdater.py b/doorUpdater.py
index 213a030..b09f0c4 100755
--- a/doorUpdater.py
+++ b/doorUpdater.py
@@ -77,10 +77,8 @@ def getMembershipworksData():
             if newHash == f.read():
                 print("hashes are the same, not updating")
                 sys.exit(0)
-    with open('/tmp/doorUpdaterLastHash', 'w') as f:
-        f.write(newHash)
 
-    return r.text
+    return r.text, newHash
 
 def makeMember(member, doorAuth):
     """Create an output CSV row for the member"""
@@ -149,12 +147,16 @@ def makeDoor(doorName, doorIPs, members):
         pass
 
 def main():
-    data = getMembershipworksData()
+    data, newHash = getMembershipworksData()
     reader = csv.DictReader(StringIO(data))
     members = list(reader)
 
     for doorName, doorIP in doors.items():
         makeDoor(doorName, doorIP, members)
 
+    # write out hash if we sucessfully got here
+    with open('/tmp/doorUpdaterLastHash', 'w') as f:
+        f.write(newHash)
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()