diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
index ef6a5b8871..5862af0c40 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
@@ -380,8 +380,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           make start-upgrade-test
 
-  publish-release:
-    if: ${{ github.event.inputs.skip_release == 'false' }}
+  pre_release_step_check:
     needs:
       - gosec
       - gosec-cosmos
@@ -393,6 +392,20 @@ jobs:
       - e2e-admin-tests
       - e2e-upgrade-test
       - check_branch
+    runs-on: buildjet-4vcpu-ubuntu-2204
+    timeout-minutes: 120
+    steps:
+      - name: Execute upgrade-test
+        if: ${{ github.event.inputs.skip_checks != 'true' }}
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          echo "${{ github.ref }}"
+
+  publish-release:
+    if: ${{ github.event.inputs.skip_release == 'false' }}
+    needs:
+      - pre_release_step_check
+      - check_branch
     runs-on: buildjet-4vcpu-ubuntu-2004
     timeout-minutes: 60
     environment: release