diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-python-runtime.yml b/.github/workflows/release-python-runtime.yml
index ed0e07fc46f..b41642f6c54 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-python-runtime.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-python-runtime.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 name: Build Python Runtime
 
-on: workflow_dispatch
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      update-released:
+        description: 'Update already released versions?'
+        required: false
+        default: false
+        type: boolean
 
 jobs:
   build:
@@ -32,7 +39,7 @@ jobs:
           # boto3 v1.36.0 fails with:
           # NotImplemented error occurred in CreateMultipartUpload operation: Header 'x-amz-checksum-algorithm' with value 'CRC32' not implemented
           pip install 'boto3<1.36.0' requests
-          python3 src/pyodide/upload_bundles.py
+          python3 src/pyodide/upload_bundles.py ${{ inputs.update-released == true && '--update-released' || '' }}
 
       - name: Check for open PR and commit changes
         env:
diff --git a/build/python_metadata.bzl b/build/python_metadata.bzl
index 82b812a3775..c2ea674ff36 100644
--- a/build/python_metadata.bzl
+++ b/build/python_metadata.bzl
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ def _make_bundle_version_info(versions):
 BUNDLE_VERSION_INFO = _make_bundle_version_info([
     {
         "name": "0.26.0a2",
+        "released": True,
         "pyodide_version": "0.26.0a2",
         "pyodide_date": "2024-03-01",
         "packages": PACKAGES_20240829_4,
diff --git a/src/pyodide/upload_bundles.py b/src/pyodide/upload_bundles.py
index 5908c91643f..532b76b8702 100644
--- a/src/pyodide/upload_bundles.py
+++ b/src/pyodide/upload_bundles.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import argparse
 import json
 import re
 import subprocess
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ def bundle_url(**kwds):
 def get_backport(ver):
     info = bundle_version_info()[ver]
     backport = int(info["backport"])
-    for b in range(backport + 1, backport + 10):
+    for b in range(backport + 1, backport + 20):
         info["backport"] = b
         url = bundle_url(**info)
         res = requests.head(url)
@@ -116,11 +117,13 @@ def print_info(info: BundleInfo) -> None:
     print()
 
 
-def make_bundles() -> list[BundleInfo]:
+def make_bundles(update_released: bool) -> list[BundleInfo]:
     result = []
     for ver, info in bundle_version_info().items():
         if ver.startswith("dev"):
             continue
+        if not update_released and info.get("released", False):
+            continue
         path = Path(get_pyodide_bin_path(ver)).resolve()
         b = get_backport(ver)
         info["backport"] = b
@@ -151,7 +154,16 @@ def upload_bundles(bundles: list[BundleInfo]):
 
 
 def main():
-    bundles = make_bundles()
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="Upload Pyodide bundles and update metadata"
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--update-released",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Update already released versions?",
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    bundles = make_bundles(args.update_released)
     for bundle in bundles:
         print_info(bundle)
     update_python_metadata_bzl(bundles)