diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 53d9238e..826c0839 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   release:
-    if: ${{ github.event_name != 'pull_request' || github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name == github.repository }}
+    # Run on manual dispatch OR when PR is merged from same repository
+    if: ${{ github.event_name != 'pull_request' || (github.event.pull_request.merged == true && github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name == github.repository) }}
     permissions:
       contents: write
-      pull-requests: write
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5