diff --git a/update_psa_helpers b/update_psa_helpers
index 85008e8..176c8a2 100755
--- a/update_psa_helpers
+++ b/update_psa_helpers
@@ -374,7 +374,43 @@ cleanup_previous_version() {
 }
 
 check_for_apism () {
-    nc localhost 7778
+    local func="${FUNCNAME[0]}"
+    if nc localhost 7778; then
+        APISM_RUNNING=1
+        log_debug "$func:${LINENO}: APISM running..."
+        return 0
+    else
+        log_crit "$func:${LINENO}: *************************"
+        log_crit "$func:${LINENO}: !!! APISM NOT RUNNING !!!"
+        log_crit "$func:${LINENO}: *************************"
+    fi
+    return 1
+}
+
+check_default_route () {
+    if ip route | head -n 1 | grep -q '^default'
+        log_debug "$func:${LINENO}: default route set"
+        return 0
+    then
+        log_crit "$func:${LINENO}: ***************************************"
+        log_crit "$func:${LINENO}: !!! NO DEFAULT ROUTE SET !!! Exiting..."
+        log_crit "$func:${LINENO}: ***************************************"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+}
+
+check_route_to_repository () {
+    # ip_address=$1, e.g. git.mimbach.de (185.191.219.134)
+    # 185.191.219.134 via 192.168.5.254 ...
+    if test "$#" -eq 1 && ip route get "$1" | head -n 1 | grep -q "^$1"
+        log_debug "$func:${LINENO}: route to repository available"
+        return 0
+    then
+        log_crit "$func:${LINENO}: ***************************************"
+        log_crit "$func:${LINENO}: !!! NO ROUTE TO REPO SET !!! Exiting..."
+        log_crit "$func:${LINENO}: ***************************************"
+        exit 1
+    fi
 }
 
 get_customer_id () {