diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 20189f8..e669188 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -90,12 +90,113 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
 
+      - name: Check version against crates.io
+        id: version_check
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          TAG="${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/}"
+          LOCAL_VER="${TAG#v}"
+          CRATE_NAME="masterror"
+
+          echo "Local version: ${LOCAL_VER}"
+
+          # Fetch current version from crates.io
+          CRATESIO_VER=$(curl -s "https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/${CRATE_NAME}" | jq -r '.crate.max_version // empty')
+
+          if [ -z "${CRATESIO_VER}" ]; then
+            echo "Crate not found on crates.io, proceeding with first publish"
+            echo "should_publish=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          echo "crates.io version: ${CRATESIO_VER}"
+
+          # Equal versions check
+          if [ "${LOCAL_VER}" = "${CRATESIO_VER}" ]; then
+            echo "Version ${LOCAL_VER} already published on crates.io"
+            echo "should_publish=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          # Semver comparison using inline Rust script
+          TMPDIR=$(mktemp -d)
+          mkdir -p "${TMPDIR}/src"
+          cat > "${TMPDIR}/src/main.rs" << 'RUST_EOF'
+          use std::env;
+
+          fn main() {
+              let args: Vec<String> = env::args().collect();
+              if args.len() != 3 {
+                  eprintln!("Usage: compare <version1> <version2>");
+                  std::process::exit(1);
+              }
+
+              let v1 = match semver::Version::parse(&args[1]) {
+                  Ok(v) => v,
+                  Err(e) => {
+                      eprintln!("Failed to parse version1: {}", e);
+                      std::process::exit(1);
+                  }
+              };
+
+              let v2 = match semver::Version::parse(&args[2]) {
+                  Ok(v) => v,
+                  Err(e) => {
+                      eprintln!("Failed to parse version2: {}", e);
+                      std::process::exit(1);
+                  }
+              };
+
+              if v1 > v2 {
+                  println!("greater");
+              } else if v1 < v2 {
+                  println!("less");
+              } else {
+                  println!("equal");
+              }
+          }
+          RUST_EOF
+
+          cat > "${TMPDIR}/Cargo.toml" << 'TOML_EOF'
+          [package]
+          name = "semver-compare"
+          version = "0.1.0"
+          edition = "2024"
+
+          [dependencies]
+          semver = "1.0"
+          TOML_EOF
+
+          # Build and run comparison
+          COMPARISON=$(cd "${TMPDIR}" && cargo run --quiet -- "${LOCAL_VER}" "${CRATESIO_VER}" 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")
+          rm -rf "${TMPDIR}"
+
+          if [ "${COMPARISON}" = "greater" ]; then
+            echo "Local version ${LOCAL_VER} > crates.io version ${CRATESIO_VER}, proceeding"
+            echo "should_publish=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          elif [ "${COMPARISON}" = "less" ]; then
+            echo "Local version ${LOCAL_VER} < crates.io version ${CRATESIO_VER}"
+            echo "Cannot publish older version"
+            echo "should_publish=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            exit 1
+          elif [ "${COMPARISON}" = "equal" ]; then
+            echo "Version ${LOCAL_VER} already published on crates.io"
+            echo "should_publish=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          else
+            echo "Could not determine version ordering, manual check required"
+            echo "should_publish=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
       - name: Install Rust (${{ steps.msrv.outputs.msrv }})
+        if: steps.version_check.outputs.should_publish == 'true'
         uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@v1
         with:
           toolchain: ${{ steps.msrv.outputs.msrv }}
 
       - name: Maybe publish masterror-template
+        if: steps.version_check.outputs.should_publish == 'true'
         env:
           CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
         shell: bash
@@ -120,9 +221,11 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
       - name: Wait for crates.io index sync (after template)
+        if: steps.version_check.outputs.should_publish == 'true'
         run: sleep 15
 
       - name: Maybe publish masterror-derive
+        if: steps.version_check.outputs.should_publish == 'true'
         env:
           CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
         shell: bash
@@ -147,9 +250,11 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
       - name: Wait for crates.io index sync
+        if: steps.version_check.outputs.should_publish == 'true'
         run: sleep 15
 
       - name: Publish masterror
+        if: steps.version_check.outputs.should_publish == 'true'
         env:
           CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
         shell: bash