diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index 40e0d934..8c4ccce8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ jobs:
     name: Preflight checks
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     # Skip dev publish when the push is a stable release version bump
-    if: github.event_name == 'release' || !startsWith(github.event.head_commit.message, 'chore: release v')
+    if: ${{ github.event_name == 'release' || !startsWith(github.event.head_commit.message, 'chore: release v') }}
     permissions:
       contents: read
     steps: