diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml
index 694b564..495c17b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml
@@ -101,12 +101,10 @@ jobs:
           post_process: |
             git add -A && git stash && git checkout master && git checkout stash -- . && git stash drop
       - name: Upload tarball to release
-        if: github.ref_type == 'tag'
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
-          gh release upload "${{ github.ref_name }}" \
-            "lapctl-${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}-x86_64.tar.gz" --clobber 2>/dev/null ||
-          gh release create "${{ github.ref_name }}" --title "${{ github.ref_name }}" --notes "" &&
-          gh release upload "${{ github.ref_name }}" \
+          TAG="v${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}"
+          gh release create "$TAG" --title "$TAG" --notes "" 2>/dev/null || true
+          gh release upload "$TAG" \
             "lapctl-${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}-x86_64.tar.gz" --clobber