diff --git a/bin/app-json.py b/bin/app-json.py
index 96a1128..f361de6 100755
--- a/bin/app-json.py
+++ b/bin/app-json.py
@@ -53,6 +53,19 @@ def _run_cmd(cmd, shell=False):
         exit(1)
 
 
+def get_published_apps_json():
+    """Retrieve already published apps json."""
+    url = "https://abra-apps.cloud.autonomic.zone"
+
+    log.info(f"Retrieving {url}")
+
+    try:
+        return get(url, timeout=5).json()
+    except Exception as exception:
+        log.error(f"Failed to retrieve {url}, saw {str(exception)}")
+        return {}
+
+
 def clone_all_apps():
     """Clone all Co-op Cloud apps to ~/.abra/apps."""
     if not exists(CLONES_PATH):