diff --git a/.maintain/gitlab/check_polkadot_companion_status.sh b/.maintain/gitlab/check_polkadot_companion_status.sh
index d5e84e02ba85d..35c2983886f46 100755
--- a/.maintain/gitlab/check_polkadot_companion_status.sh
+++ b/.maintain/gitlab/check_polkadot_companion_status.sh
@@ -82,12 +82,14 @@ curl -H "${github_header}" -sS -o companion_pr_reviews.json \
   ${github_api_polkadot_pull_url}/${pr_companion}/reviews
 
 # If there are any 'CHANGES_REQUESTED' reviews for the *current* review
+jq -r -e '.[] | select(.state == "CHANGES_REQUESTED").commit_id' \
+  < companion_pr_reviews.json > companion_pr_reviews_current.json
 while IFS= read -r line; do
   if [ "$line" = "$pr_head_sha" ]; then
     boldprint "polkadot pr #${pr_companion} has CHANGES_REQUESTED for the latest commit"
     exit 1
   fi
-done <<< $(jq -r -e '.[] | select(.state == "CHANGES_REQUESTED").commit_id' < companion_pr_reviews.json)
+done < companion_pr_reviews_current.json
 
 # Then we check for at least 1 APPROVED
 if [ -z "$(jq -r -e '.[].state | select(. == "APPROVED")' < companion_pr_reviews.json)" ]; then