diff --git a/.buildkite/pipeline.yml b/.buildkite/pipeline.yml
index 6d1a730..4f3220c 100644
--- a/.buildkite/pipeline.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/pipeline.yml
@@ -104,12 +104,18 @@ steps:
       sha256sum builddeck | tee builddeck.sha256
       buildkite-agent artifact upload "builddeck"
       buildkite-agent artifact upload "builddeck.sha256"
+      # Upload builddeck.tag so the release step can download it from this step
+      # regardless of which agent it runs on. The tag step also uploads it, but
+      # having it from release_build ensures immediate availability.
+      if [[ -s builddeck.tag ]]; then
+        buildkite-agent artifact upload "builddeck.tag"
+      fi
 
   - label: ":rocket: GitHub Release"
     key: release
     depends_on: release_build
     command: |
-      if [[ -s builddeck.tag ]]; then
+      if buildkite-agent artifact download builddeck.tag . --step release_build 2>/dev/null && [[ -s builddeck.tag ]]; then
         VERSION=$(cat builddeck.tag)
         echo "Creating GitHub release for ${VERSION}"
         .buildkite/release.sh "${VERSION}"