diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 42d8b1a52..93dae5eab 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -44,8 +44,10 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout source
         uses: actions/checkout@b4ffde65f46336ab88eb53be808477a3936bae11 #v4.1.1
-        with:
-          ref: main
+        # forcing release because of the issue documented here:
+        # https://github.com/TBD54566975/web5-js/pull/517
+        # with:
+        #   ref: main
 
       # https://cashapp.github.io/hermit/usage/ci/
       - name: Init Hermit
diff --git a/scripts/changesets-api-release-check.sh b/scripts/changesets-api-release-check.sh
index 1a393ff53..22dd0af96 100755
--- a/scripts/changesets-api-release-check.sh
+++ b/scripts/changesets-api-release-check.sh
@@ -38,12 +38,12 @@ if [[ -n $API_RELEASE_PR || $KICK_API_RELEASE == "true" ]]; then
     exit 0
 fi
 
-if [[ $API_RELEASES_COUNT == $ALL_RELEASES_COUNT ]]; then
-    echo "Only @web5/api release detected, checking for API Release labeled PR or Kick trigger..."
-    if [[ -z $RELEASE_WEB5_API ]]; then
-        echo "No API Release labeled PR found and KICK_API_RELEASE is false, skipping the PR creation..."
-        # removes all the api changesets files to ensure a Version Packages PR is not created
-        find .changeset -type f -name "*.md" ! -name "README.md" -exec rm {} +
-        exit 0
-    fi
-fi
+# if [[ $API_RELEASES_COUNT == $ALL_RELEASES_COUNT ]]; then
+#     echo "Only @web5/api release detected, checking for API Release labeled PR or Kick trigger..."
+#     if [[ -z $RELEASE_WEB5_API ]]; then
+#         echo "No API Release labeled PR found and KICK_API_RELEASE is false, skipping the PR creation..."
+#         # removes all the api changesets files to ensure a Version Packages PR is not created
+#         find .changeset -type f -name "*.md" ! -name "README.md" -exec rm {} +
+#         exit 0
+#     fi
+# fi