diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 203ad99583..9e93795d70 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,16 @@ on:
         type: boolean
 
 jobs:
+  check-version:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - uses: samuelcolvin/check-python-version@v4
+        id: check-python-version
+        with:
+          version_file_path: invokeai/version/invokeai_version.py
+
   check-frontend:
     if: github.event.inputs.skip_code_checks != 'true'
     uses: ./.github/workflows/check-frontend.yml
@@ -26,7 +36,7 @@ jobs:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/check-pytest.yml
 
   build:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
@@ -57,20 +67,13 @@ jobs:
           path: ${{ steps.create_installer.outputs.INSTALLER_PATH }}
 
   publish-testpypi:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
-    needs: [check-frontend, check-python, pytest, build]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: [check-version, check-frontend, check-python, pytest, build]
     if: ${{ github.event.inputs.skip_code_checks != true && github.event.inputs.skip_code_checks != 'true' }}
     environment:
       name: testpypi
       url: https://test.pypi.org/p/invokeai
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - uses: samuelcolvin/check-python-version@v4
-        id: check-python-version
-        with:
-          version_file_path: invokeai/version/invokeai_version.py
-
       - name: Download distribution from build job
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
@@ -83,20 +86,13 @@ jobs:
           repository-url: https://test.pypi.org/legacy/
 
   publish-pypi:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
-    needs: [check-frontend, check-python, pytest, build]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: [check-version, check-frontend, check-python, pytest, build]
     if: ${{ github.event.inputs.skip_code_checks != true && github.event.inputs.skip_code_checks != 'true' }}
     environment:
       name: pypi
       url: https://pypi.org/p/invokeai
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - uses: samuelcolvin/check-python-version@v4
-        id: check-python-version
-        with:
-          version_file_path: invokeai/version/invokeai_version.py
-
       - name: Download distribution from build job
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with: