diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index 65975123..cdc6855b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ jobs:
   nix-build:
     name: build nix flakes and push to cachix
     needs: [release]
+    if: ${{ needs.release.outputs.release_created }}
     strategy:
       matrix:
         os: [ubuntu-latest, macos-13, macos-14]