diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index fd8018c..bb1ade8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -15,4 +15,8 @@ permissions: {}  # disabled
 jobs:
   build-and-publish:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps: []  # disabled
+    steps:
+      # Disabled: GitHub fails a job with zero steps, so keep a single no-op
+      # to keep the (tag-triggered) run green while publishing stays off.
+      - name: Publishing disabled
+        run: echo "PyPI publishing is disabled — no action taken."