diff --git a/.github/workflows/github-actions.yml b/.github/workflows/github-actions.yml
index 434c15ff9..52bbbf49c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/github-actions.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/github-actions.yml
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       # Checkout variorum repository under $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Install deps on ubuntu
         run: |
@@ -166,11 +166,11 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         os: [ubuntu-latest]
-        python-version: [3.7]
+        python-version: [3.11]
 
     steps:
       # Checkout variorum repository under $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Check license headers
         run: |
diff --git a/src/utilities/verify_msr_kernel.py b/src/utilities/verify_msr_kernel.py
index 1a689ed7f..54ce258fc 100755
--- a/src/utilities/verify_msr_kernel.py
+++ b/src/utilities/verify_msr_kernel.py
@@ -305,8 +305,9 @@ def check_msr_files_access(verbose):
     err = check_msr_kernel_loaded(verbose)
     if err == 0:
         err = check_msr_files_character_devices(
+            verbose) or check_msr_files_access(
             verbose
-        ) or check_msr_files_access(verbose)
+        )
         if err == 0:
             print("-- Valid kernel loaded: msr")
             found_valid_kernel = 1