diff --git a/.azure/pipelines/azure-pipelines-deploy.yml b/.azure/pipelines/azure-pipelines-deploy.yml
index cd25f39b..80eaf541 100644
--- a/.azure/pipelines/azure-pipelines-deploy.yml
+++ b/.azure/pipelines/azure-pipelines-deploy.yml
@@ -64,6 +64,13 @@ stages:
                 script: |
                   $appVersion = $env:DEPLOY_BUILDNUMBER
                   $appVersionShort = $appVersion.Substring(0, $appVersion.LastIndexOf('.'))
+                  
+                  if (!(Test-Path $env:DEPLOY_PUBLISHDIRECTORY)) {
+                    throw "Source directory does not exist or could not be found ($env:DEPLOY_PUBLISHDIRECTORY)"
+                  }
+                  if (!(Test-Path $env:DEPLOY_REPODIRECTORY)) {
+                    New-Item -Path "$env:DEPLOY_REPODIRECTORY" -ItemType Directory -Force
+                  }
 
                   # copy common files
                   Copy-Item -Path "$env:DEPLOY_PUBLISHDIRECTORY\en-US.xaml" -Destination "$env:DEPLOY_REPODIRECTORY" -Force