diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a0125e6..1367947 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "scripts": {
     "base-build": "npm ci && tsc",
     "build": "npm run base-build && npm exec -- @vercel/ncc build --source-map lib/src/index.js",
-    "build-exe": "pkg package.json --compress Gzip",
+    "build-exe": "npm run build && pkg package.json --compress Gzip",
     "test": "jest"
   },
   "repository": {
diff --git a/src/executable/cli.ts b/src/executable/cli.ts
index a186de9..8cb57c1 100644
--- a/src/executable/cli.ts
+++ b/src/executable/cli.ts
@@ -34,8 +34,9 @@ async function execute() {
   let snapshot: Snapshot | undefined;
 
   // The dependency submission API requires a formatted ref reference so check early fo now
-  if (`/^refs\//`.match(opts.branchRef) === null) {
+  if (/^refs\//.exec(opts.branchRef) === null) {
     console.error(`Branch reference must be in path form, e.g. 'refs/heads/main' for the 'main' branch.`);
+    console.error(`  provided value was: '${opts.branchRef}'`);
     program.help({ error: true });
     process.exit(1);
   }