diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9b55457..42f80d6 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/)
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+-   Perform check for nrfutil-toolchain-manager after determining that the east 
+    was run inside the NCS project.
+
 ## [0.18.2] - 2024-04-04
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/src/east/east_context.py b/src/east/east_context.py
index b6e2d59..f22cb26 100644
--- a/src/east/east_context.py
+++ b/src/east/east_context.py
@@ -452,22 +452,23 @@ def pre_workspace_command_check(
             self.print(format_east_yml_load_error_msg(msg), highlight=False)
             self.exit()
 
-        # Exit if manager is not installed
-        if not self.check_exe(self.consts["nrf_toolchain_manager_path"]):
-            self.print(no_toolchain_manager_msg, highlight=False)
-            self.exit()
-
         # Check if ncs version was even detected, this can happen in the cases where
         # normal zephyr repo is used
         if self.detected_ncs_version is None:
             self.use_toolchain_manager = False
             return
 
+        # Exit if manager is not installed
+        if not self.check_exe(self.consts["nrf_toolchain_manager_path"]):
+            self.print(no_toolchain_manager_msg, highlight=False)
+            self.exit()
+
+        # If it is installed then we should use it
+        self.use_toolchain_manager = True
+
         # Early exit if toolchain for detected ncs version is installed
         result = self.run_manager("list", silent=True, return_output=True)
         if self.detected_ncs_version in result["output"]:
-            # If it is installed then is also supported
-            self.use_toolchain_manager = True
             return
 
         # Check if toolchain for detected ncs version is supported