diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-please.yml b/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
index 291d5666..f126f84f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
@@ -41,29 +41,6 @@ jobs:
           config-file: release-please-config.json
           manifest-file: .release-please-manifest.json
 
-      - name: Ensure draft GitHub Release exists
-        if: steps.release.outputs.release_created == 'true'
-        env:
-          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
-          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ steps.release.outputs.tag_name }}
-        run: |
-          set -euo pipefail
-          if gh release view "${RELEASE_TAG}" --json isDraft,publishedAt >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-            is_draft="$(gh release view "${RELEASE_TAG}" --json isDraft --jq .isDraft)"
-            published_at="$(gh release view "${RELEASE_TAG}" --json publishedAt --jq .publishedAt)"
-            if [[ "${is_draft}" == "true" && "${published_at}" == "null" ]]; then
-              echo "draft GitHub Release ${RELEASE_TAG} already exists"
-              exit 0
-            fi
-            echo "${RELEASE_TAG} exists but is not an unpublished draft." >&2
-            exit 1
-          fi
-          gh release create "${RELEASE_TAG}" \
-            --draft \
-            --verify-tag \
-            --title "${RELEASE_TAG}" \
-            --generate-notes
-
       - name: Synchronize checked-in release metadata
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index aa57f5c0..5fb87435 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -222,24 +222,24 @@ jobs:
           (cd release && sha256sum wright-*.tar.gz wright-*.zip > SHA256SUMS)
           ls -l release/
 
-      - name: Wait for the release-please draft Release
+      - name: Verify the release-please draft Release
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          for attempt in $(seq 1 30); do
-            if gh release view "${RELEASE_TAG}" --json isDraft --jq '.isDraft' 2>/dev/null | grep -qx true; then
-              exit 0
-            fi
-            sleep 2
-          done
-          echo "draft GitHub Release ${RELEASE_TAG} was not found" >&2
-          exit 1
+          release="$(gh release view "${RELEASE_TAG}" \
+            --repo "${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}" \
+            --json tagName,isDraft,isImmutable,url)"
+          echo "${release}"
+          test "$(jq -r .tagName <<<"${release}")" = "${RELEASE_TAG}"
+          test "$(jq -r .isDraft <<<"${release}")" = "true"
 
       - name: Attach native archives and checksums
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
-        run: gh release upload "${RELEASE_TAG}" release/* --clobber
+        run: >-
+          gh release upload "${RELEASE_TAG}" release/* --clobber
+          --repo "${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}"
 
   package-manifests:
     name: Generate package-manager manifests
@@ -304,7 +304,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Attach package-manager manifests to the draft Release
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
-        run: gh release upload "${RELEASE_TAG}" attach/* --clobber
+        run: >-
+          gh release upload "${RELEASE_TAG}" attach/* --clobber
+          --repo "${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}"
 
   publish-tap:
     name: Publish formula to homebrew-tap
@@ -411,7 +413,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Attach npm tarballs to the draft Release
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
-        run: gh release upload "${RELEASE_TAG}" npm-packages/*.tgz --clobber
+        run: >-
+          gh release upload "${RELEASE_TAG}" npm-packages/*.tgz --clobber
+          --repo "${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}"
 
       - name: Upload npm tarballs for registry publishing
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
@@ -525,4 +529,6 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
           RELEASE_TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
-        run: gh release edit "${RELEASE_TAG}" --draft=false --latest
+        run: >-
+          gh release edit "${RELEASE_TAG}" --draft=false --latest
+          --repo "${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}"