diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index 96878c5..94bd743 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ on:
   release:
     types: [published]
   workflow_dispatch:
+  # GitHub does not start new workflow runs for events caused by the default
+  # GITHUB_TOKEN (e.g. gh release create in another workflow). After
+  # "Release on merge" creates a release, trigger publish here instead.
+  workflow_run:
+    workflows: [Release on merge]
+    types: [completed]
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
@@ -11,12 +17,37 @@ permissions:
 
 jobs:
   publish:
+    if: >-
+      github.event_name != 'workflow_run' ||
+      github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_run' && 'main' || github.event_name == 'release' && github.ref || 'main' }}
+
+      - name: Decide whether to publish
+        id: gate
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          if [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" != "workflow_run" ]]; then
+            echo "publish=true" >> "${GITHUB_OUTPUT}"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+          VERSION="$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")"
+          TAG="v-${VERSION}"
+          if gh release view "${TAG}" --repo "${{ github.repository }}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            echo "publish=true" >> "${GITHUB_OUTPUT}"
+          else
+            echo "No GitHub release ${TAG} yet (or release job was skipped); skipping publish."
+            echo "publish=false" >> "${GITHUB_OUTPUT}"
+          fi
 
       # Omit registry-url: setup-node otherwise sets NODE_AUTH_TOKEN to a placeholder and npm publish uses that instead of OIDC.
       - name: Setup Node
+        if: steps.gate.outputs.publish == 'true'
         uses: actions/setup-node@v6
         with:
           node-version: 22
@@ -24,9 +55,11 @@ jobs:
           cache: npm
 
       - name: Upgrade npm for trusted publishing (OIDC)
+        if: steps.gate.outputs.publish == 'true'
         run: npm install -g npm@">=11.5.1"
 
       - name: Ensure versions match
+        if: steps.gate.outputs.publish == 'true'
         shell: bash
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
@@ -46,11 +79,14 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
       - name: Install dependencies
+        if: steps.gate.outputs.publish == 'true'
         run: npm install --ignore-scripts --no-package-lock
 
       - name: Publish to npm
+        if: steps.gate.outputs.publish == 'true'
         run: npm publish --access public --provenance
 
       - name: Publish to JSR
+        if: steps.gate.outputs.publish == 'true'
         run: npx jsr publish
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-on-merge.yml b/.github/workflows/release-on-merge.yml
index 6182b30..7c06786 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-on-merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-on-merge.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 name: Release on merge
 
 # When a release/* PR merges into main, create a GitHub release (tag v-<version>).
-# The published release triggers publish.yml (npm + JSR).
+# Events from GITHUB_TOKEN do not start other workflows; publish.yml is triggered via
+# workflow_run when this workflow completes (see publish.yml).
 
 on:
   pull_request: