diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 6a56560f30a8..6a126af1682f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -137,6 +137,10 @@ jobs:
           mkdir -p $HOME/.kube
           echo "${{ secrets.KUBE_CONFIG }}" | base64 --decode > $HOME/.kube/config
           chmod 600 $HOME/.kube/config
+          if ! kubectl cluster-info > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+            echo "Error: Failed to connect to Kubernetes cluster. Please verify KUBE_CONFIG secret is correct."
+            exit 1
+          fi
           git_hash=$(git rev-parse --short "$GITHUB_SHA")
           masternodes=$(kubectl get deployment -o json| jq -r '.items[] | select(.metadata.name | test("devnet")) | "\(.metadata.name)"')
           rpcs=$(kubectl get deployment -o json| jq -r '.items[] | select(.metadata.name | test("rpc")) | "\(.metadata.name)"')