diff --git a/ci_cd/lab1.yml b/ci_cd/lab1.yml
index a2a4145132442b224bfddf609c1e0e3199c70912..c2bfe249ffa0c0d851238e5b6d7631d74f100272 100644
--- a/ci_cd/lab1.yml
+++ b/ci_cd/lab1.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,21 @@
 prebuild_lab_1:
   stage: lab1
   script:
+    - |
+      # Check if lab0.cpp exists
+      if [ ! -f "lab1.cpp" ]; then
+        echo "lab1.cpp does not exist";
+        exit 1;
+      fi
+      
+      # Check if lab0.cpp has been merged into master
+      git fetch origin master  # Fetch the latest master branch
+      if git ls-tree -r origin/master --name-only | grep -q 'lab0.cpp'; then
+        echo "Lab 0 complete";
+      else
+        echo "Please have lab 0 merged first";
+        exit 1;
+      fi
     - git clone https://agile.bu.edu/gitlab/configs/ec327/lab-configs/current.git base_1
   artifacts:
     paths: