diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 259ab2610..d2b07c70c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ jobs:
           node-version-file: '.nvmrc'
 
       - name: Update npm
-        run: npm install -g npm@latest
+        # npm >= 11.5.1 is needed for trusted publishing; npm 12 dropped Node 20 support
+        run: npm install -g npm@11
 
       - run: |
           npm clean-install