diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 8040aa1620..476c11bd53 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ jobs:
   release-npm:
     name: Release NPM packages
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
-    timeout-minutes: 30
+    timeout-minutes: 60
     if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
     steps:
       - name: Check out repo
diff --git a/packages/js-evo-sdk/package.json b/packages/js-evo-sdk/package.json
index 885706befb..47a1f2b8db 100644
--- a/packages/js-evo-sdk/package.json
+++ b/packages/js-evo-sdk/package.json
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@
     "lint": "eslint \"src/**/*.ts\" \"tests/**/*.*js\"",
     "test": "yarn run test:unit && yarn run test:functional",
     "test:unit": "mocha tests/unit/**/*.spec.mjs && karma start ./tests/karma/karma.conf.cjs --single-run",
-    "test:functional": "mocha tests/functional/**/*.spec.mjs --exit --timeout 90000  && karma start ./tests/karma/karma.functional.conf.cjs --single-run",
-    "prepack": "yarn build"
+    "test:functional": "mocha tests/functional/**/*.spec.mjs --exit --timeout 90000  && karma start ./tests/karma/karma.functional.conf.cjs --single-run"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^5.55.0",
diff --git a/packages/wasm-sdk/package.json b/packages/wasm-sdk/package.json
index ed7f3a2e68..2aba1d5441 100644
--- a/packages/wasm-sdk/package.json
+++ b/packages/wasm-sdk/package.json
@@ -24,10 +24,8 @@
     "node": ">=18.18"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "build:dev": "./scripts/build.sh && node ./scripts/bundle.cjs",
+    "build": "./scripts/build.sh && node ./scripts/bundle.cjs",
     "build:release": "./scripts/build-optimized.sh && node ./scripts/bundle.cjs",
-    "build": "yarn build:dev",
-    "prepack": "yarn build:release",
     "test": "yarn run test:unit && yarn run test:functional",
     "test:unit": "mocha tests/unit/**/*.spec.mjs && karma start ./tests/karma/karma.conf.cjs --single-run",
     "test:functional": "mocha tests/functional/**/*.spec.mjs && karma start ./tests/karma/karma.functional.conf.cjs --single-run",
diff --git a/packages/wasm-sdk/scripts/build.sh b/packages/wasm-sdk/scripts/build.sh
index c063fd387f..612998eb4a 100755
--- a/packages/wasm-sdk/scripts/build.sh
+++ b/packages/wasm-sdk/scripts/build.sh
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ set -euo pipefail
 # Get script directory
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 
+# If building with release profile, use the optimized build script
+if [ "${CARGO_BUILD_PROFILE:-}" = "release" ]; then
+    # exec replaces the current shell process; the script will not continue after this.
+    exec "$SCRIPT_DIR/build-optimized.sh"
+fi
+
 # Determine optimization level based on environment
 OPT_LEVEL="full"
 if [ "${CARGO_BUILD_PROFILE:-}" = "dev" ] || [ "${CI:-}" != "true" ]; then