diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 279d97a..46586d2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ jobs:
           test "$tag" = "$package_version"
       - name: Install OIDC-capable npm
         run: npm install --global npm@11.17.0
+      - name: Remove deprecated always-auth config written by setup-node
+        run: sed -i '/always-auth/d' ~/.npmrc || true
       - run: npm ci
       - run: npm run check
       - run: npm test