diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 32a95cfa..a5e99bf9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Set up Python
       uses: actions/setup-python@v6
       with:
-        python-version: '3.x'
+        python-version: '3.12.3' # matches the Dockerfile builder
     - name: Build package
       run: |
         python -m pip install --upgrade pip