diff --git a/enterprise/integrations/github/github_manager.py b/enterprise/integrations/github/github_manager.py
index 32ea147dec..d7989d25ca 100644
--- a/enterprise/integrations/github/github_manager.py
+++ b/enterprise/integrations/github/github_manager.py
@@ -145,11 +145,7 @@ class GithubManager(Manager):
         ).get('body', ''):
             return False
 
-        if GithubFactory.is_eligible_for_conversation_starter(
-            message
-        ) and self._user_has_write_access_to_repo(installation_id, repo_name, username):
-            await GithubFactory.trigger_conversation_starter(message)
-
+        # Check event types before making expensive API calls (e.g., _user_has_write_access_to_repo)
         if not (
             GithubFactory.is_labeled_issue(message)
             or GithubFactory.is_issue_comment(message)
@@ -159,8 +155,17 @@ class GithubManager(Manager):
             return False
 
         logger.info(f'[GitHub] Checking permissions for {username} in {repo_name}')
+        user_has_write_access = self._user_has_write_access_to_repo(
+            installation_id, repo_name, username
+        )
 
-        return self._user_has_write_access_to_repo(installation_id, repo_name, username)
+        if (
+            GithubFactory.is_eligible_for_conversation_starter(message)
+            and user_has_write_access
+        ):
+            await GithubFactory.trigger_conversation_starter(message)
+
+        return user_has_write_access
 
     async def receive_message(self, message: Message):
         self._confirm_incoming_source_type(message)