diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index ec951096c..95f38315b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v2
 
+      # Setup Node.js version first
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v3
+        with:
+          node-version: "22.18.0"
+          always-auth: true
+          registry-url: "https://registry.npmjs.org"
+
       # Note we set an `id` called `release`. We'll use that later...
       - name: Validate and extract release information
         id: release
@@ -28,13 +35,6 @@ jobs:
       # Perform installs, run tests, run a build step, etc. here, as needed.
       - run: yarn
 
-      # Setup .npmrc file to publish to npm
-      - uses: actions/setup-node@v3
-        with:
-          node-version: "22.18.0"
-          always-auth: true
-          registry-url: "https://registry.npmjs.org"
-
       # The last two steps will publish the package. Note that we're using
       # information from the `release` step above (I told you we'd use it
       # later). Notice the `if` statements on both steps...