diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-skills.yml b/.github/workflows/release-skills.yml
index 2ec98b0..aaf9319 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-skills.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-skills.yml
@@ -58,29 +58,24 @@ jobs:
           output-file: "CHANGELOG.md"
           git-push: "false"
 
-      - name: Report validate-skills status on release commit
+      - name: Push release commit to main
         if: ${{ steps.changelog.outputs.skipped == 'false' }}
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.IDEE_GH_TOKEN }}
         run: |
           SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
+          TEMP_BRANCH="release-$(date +%s)"
+          # Push commit to a temp branch so the SHA exists on the remote
+          git push origin "$SHA:refs/heads/$TEMP_BRANCH"
+          # Report the required status check on the now-visible commit
           gh api "repos/${{ github.repository }}/statuses/$SHA" \
             -f state=success \
             -f context=validate-skills \
             -f description="Validated in release workflow"
-
-      - name: Verify tag does not already exist
-        if: ${{ steps.changelog.outputs.skipped == 'false' }}
-        run: |
-          TAG="${{ steps.changelog.outputs.tag }}"
-          if git ls-remote --tags origin | grep -q "refs/tags/$TAG$"; then
-            echo "::error::Tag $TAG already exists on remote. Delete it first if re-releasing: git push --delete origin $TAG"
-            exit 1
-          fi
-
-      - name: Push release commit and tag
-        if: ${{ steps.changelog.outputs.skipped == 'false' }}
-        run: git push origin main --follow-tags
+          # Push to main (status check is now satisfied)
+          git push origin main --follow-tags
+          # Clean up temp branch
+          git push origin --delete "$TEMP_BRANCH" || true
 
       - name: Create Github Release
         id: release