diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
index 0708cff..b589d57 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ jobs:
     environment: release
     permissions:
       id-token: write
+    env:
+      GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+      NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
     steps:
       - uses: jupyterlab/maintainer-tools/.github/actions/base-setup@d72f5cb72b472c1e59036840891e918c9bda4dae # v1
 
@@ -29,9 +32,6 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Populate Release
         id: populate-release
-        env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         uses: jupyter-server/jupyter_releaser/.github/actions/populate-release@6accaa3c07b69acaa1e14e00ba138133d8cbe879 # v2
         with:
           token: ${{ steps.app-token.outputs.token }}