diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index 13fba3ad..d4d0d0d3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ on:
         description: "Beta release version (e.g., 1.8.0-beta15)"
         required: true
 
+env:
+  STABLE_VERSION: ${{ github.event.inputs.stableVersion || github.event.client_payload.stableVersion }}
+  BETA_VERSION: ${{ github.event.inputs.betaVersion || github.event.client_payload.betaVersion }}
+
 jobs:
 
   release:
@@ -42,10 +46,10 @@ jobs:
           echo "stableVersionSnapshot=$REVISION" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       - name: Update stable versions
-        run: mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=${{ github.event.inputs.stableVersion }} -DoldVersion=${{ steps.extract-stable-snapshot-version.outputs.stableVersionSnapshot }} -DgroupId=* -DartifactId=* -DgenerateBackupPoms=false
+        run: mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=${{ env.STABLE_VERSION }} -DoldVersion=${{ steps.extract-stable-snapshot-version.outputs.stableVersionSnapshot }} -DgroupId=* -DartifactId=* -DgenerateBackupPoms=false
 
       - name: Update stable version property
-        run: mvn versions:set-property -Dproperty=langchain4j.stable.version -DnewVersion=${{ github.event.inputs.stableVersion }}
+        run: mvn versions:set-property -Dproperty=langchain4j.stable.version -DnewVersion=${{ env.STABLE_VERSION }}
 
       - name: Extract current beta SNAPSHOT version from POM property
         id: extract-beta-snapshot-version
@@ -54,10 +58,10 @@ jobs:
           echo "betaVersionSnapshot=$REVISION" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       - name: Update beta versions
-        run: mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=${{ github.event.inputs.betaVersion }} -DoldVersion=${{ steps.extract-beta-snapshot-version.outputs.betaVersionSnapshot }} -DgroupId=* -DartifactId=* -DgenerateBackupPoms=false
+        run: mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=${{ env.BETA_VERSION }} -DoldVersion=${{ steps.extract-beta-snapshot-version.outputs.betaVersionSnapshot }} -DgroupId=* -DartifactId=* -DgenerateBackupPoms=false
 
       - name: Update beta version property
-        run: mvn versions:set-property -Dproperty=langchain4j.beta.version -DnewVersion=${{ github.event.inputs.betaVersion }}
+        run: mvn versions:set-property -Dproperty=langchain4j.beta.version -DnewVersion=${{ env.BETA_VERSION }}
 
       - name: release_part_1 # Maven Central allows uploading archive up to 1GB, so we need to split release in 2 parts
         run: |
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 57210930..b136386b 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
                 <extensions>true</extensions>
                 <configuration>
                     <publishingServerId>central</publishingServerId>
-                    <autoPublish>false</autoPublish>
+                    <autoPublish>true</autoPublish>
                 </configuration>
             </plugin>