diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index cefa958..a4b2381 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -61,10 +61,6 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: build
     steps:
-      - name: Checkout (tag)
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
       # -------------------------
       # RC-only step
       # -------------------------
@@ -95,6 +91,10 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: build
     steps:
+      - name: Checkout (tag)
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
       - name: Checkout gh-pages branch
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail