diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index ef356b45..d6596775 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 30
     steps:
+      - name: enable yarn  # needed in some tests
+        run: |-
+          corepack enable
+          yarn --version
       - name: Checkout code
         # see https://github.com/actions/checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4