diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/build-test-deploy.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/build-test-deploy.yaml
index 7618931..4950b88 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/build-test-deploy.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/build-test-deploy.yaml
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Replace placeholder serial
         run: |
-          SERIAL_OLD="$(dig +short SOA pvv.ntnu.no | cut -d" " -f3)"
+          SERIAL_OLD="$(dig +short "@${{ vars.SSH_HOST }}" SOA pvv.ntnu.no | cut -d" " -f3)"
           if [[ -z "$SERIAL_OLD" || ! "$SERIAL_OLD" =~ ^[0-9]+$ || $SERIAL_OLD -lt 1970010101 || $SERIAL_OLD -gt 3000000000 ]]; then
             echo "Error: SERIAL_OLD='$SERIAL_OLD' does not look reasonable"
             exit 1
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ jobs:
           else
             SERIAL_NEW="${DATE}01"
           fi
+          echo "$SERIAL_NEW" > /tmp/serial_new
 
           SERIAL_PLACEHOLDER=1970010101
 
@@ -154,4 +155,12 @@ jobs:
           ssh targethost "doas /usr/sbin/nsd-control reload"
 
       - name: Verifying operation
-        run: dig "@${{ vars.SSH_HOST }}" SOA pvv.ntnu.no
+        run: |
+          SERIAL_ACTIVE="$(dig "@${{ vars.SSH_HOST }}" SOA pvv.ntnu.no | cut -d" " -f3)"
+          if [[ "$(cat /tmp/serial_new)" == "$SERIAL_ACTIVE" ]]
+          then
+            echo "Update successful, server reports new active serial number '$SERIAL_ACTIVE'"
+          else
+            echo "Update failed, server reports serial '$SERIAL_ACTIVE' instead of new serial '$(cat /tmp/serial_new)'"
+            exit 1
+          fi