diff --git a/.github/workflows/merge-release-branch.yml b/.github/workflows/merge-release-branch.yml
index 1d2d9765..329c3a81 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/merge-release-branch.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/merge-release-branch.yml
@@ -46,6 +46,12 @@ jobs:
           - eclipse-zenoh/zenoh-ts
           - eclipse-zenoh/zenoh-dissector
     steps:
+      - name: Setup rust toolchain
+        if: ${{ !contains(fromJSON('["eclipse-zenoh/zenoh", "eclipse-zenoh/zenoh-pico", "eclipse-zenoh/zenoh-cpp"]'), matrix.repo) }}
+        uses: actions-rust-lang/setup-rust-toolchain@v1
+        with:
+          toolchain: 1.75.0
+
       - name: Update git/branch in release branch
         if: ${{ !contains(fromJSON('["eclipse-zenoh/zenoh", "eclipse-zenoh/zenoh-pico", "eclipse-zenoh/zenoh-cpp"]'), matrix.repo) }}
         uses: ZettaScaleLabs/ci/set-git-branch@set-git-branch-action
@@ -70,17 +76,28 @@ jobs:
       - name: Create PR
         id: cpr
         run: |
-          pr_url=$(gh pr create \
+          output=$(gh pr create \
           --title "chore: Merge release/${{ inputs.version }} into main" \
-          --body "Open new development line" \
+          --body ":warning: This needs to be a merge commit :warning:" \
           --head ${{ steps.compute-branch.outputs.branch }} \
           --base main \
           --label internal \
           -R ${{ matrix.repo }} \
-          )
-          echo "pull-request-operation=created" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-          pr_number="${pr_url##*/pull/}"
-          echo "pull-request-number=$pr_number" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          ) || exit_code=$?
+          if [[ ${exit_code} == 0 ]]; then
+            echo "pull-request-operation=created" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            pr_number="${output##*/pull/}"
+            echo "pull-request-number=$pr_number" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          else
+            if [[ $output == *"No commits between"* ]]; then
+                echo "pull-request-operation=none" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+                exit 0
+            elif [[ $output == *"pull request for branch"* ]]; then
+                echo "pull-request-operation=updated" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+                pr_number="${output##*/pull/}"
+                echo "pull-request-number=$pr_number" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            fi
+          fi
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.BOT_TOKEN_WORKFLOW }}
 
@@ -97,6 +114,6 @@ jobs:
       #    GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.BOT_TOKEN_WORKFLOW }}
 
       - name: Add the PR as annotation to workflow run
-        if: ${{ steps.cpr.outputs.pull-request-operation == 'created' }}
+        if: ${{ contains(fromJSON('["created", "updated"]'), steps.cpr.outputs.pull-request-operation ) }}
         run: >
           echo "::notice:: Created PR: https://github.com/${{ matrix.repo }}/pull/${{ steps.cpr.outputs.pull-request-number }}"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dist/build-crates-debian-main.js b/dist/build-crates-debian-main.js
index cf136881..3b4bc14e 100644
--- a/dist/build-crates-debian-main.js
+++ b/dist/build-crates-debian-main.js
@@ -128159,8 +128159,9 @@ async function setGitBranch(path, pattern, gitUrl, gitBranch) {
     }
     for (const dep in manifest.dependencies) {
         if (pattern.test(dep)) {
-            // if the dep has a path set, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
-            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path"))) {
+            // if the dep has a path set or is part of workspace, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
+            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path")) ||
+                !toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "workspace"))) {
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "git"), gitUrl);
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "branch"), gitBranch);
             }
diff --git a/dist/build-crates-standalone-main.js b/dist/build-crates-standalone-main.js
index b1fd8865..dfeedf77 100644
--- a/dist/build-crates-standalone-main.js
+++ b/dist/build-crates-standalone-main.js
@@ -128143,8 +128143,9 @@ async function setGitBranch(path, pattern, gitUrl, gitBranch) {
     }
     for (const dep in manifest.dependencies) {
         if (pattern.test(dep)) {
-            // if the dep has a path set, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
-            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path"))) {
+            // if the dep has a path set or is part of workspace, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
+            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path")) ||
+                !toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "workspace"))) {
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "git"), gitUrl);
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "branch"), gitBranch);
             }
diff --git a/dist/bump-crates-main.js b/dist/bump-crates-main.js
index dc0ef5a6..10cdce6c 100644
--- a/dist/bump-crates-main.js
+++ b/dist/bump-crates-main.js
@@ -81394,8 +81394,9 @@ async function setGitBranch(path, pattern, gitUrl, gitBranch) {
     }
     for (const dep in manifest.dependencies) {
         if (pattern.test(dep)) {
-            // if the dep has a path set, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
-            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path"))) {
+            // if the dep has a path set or is part of workspace, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
+            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path")) ||
+                !toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "workspace"))) {
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "git"), gitUrl);
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "branch"), gitBranch);
             }
diff --git a/dist/publish-crates-cargo-main.js b/dist/publish-crates-cargo-main.js
index 8c3fc3f3..0de7a4ff 100644
--- a/dist/publish-crates-cargo-main.js
+++ b/dist/publish-crates-cargo-main.js
@@ -81279,8 +81279,9 @@ async function setGitBranch(path, pattern, gitUrl, gitBranch) {
     }
     for (const dep in manifest.dependencies) {
         if (pattern.test(dep)) {
-            // if the dep has a path set, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
-            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path"))) {
+            // if the dep has a path set or is part of workspace, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
+            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path")) ||
+                !toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "workspace"))) {
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "git"), gitUrl);
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "branch"), gitBranch);
             }
diff --git a/dist/publish-crates-debian-main.js b/dist/publish-crates-debian-main.js
index 1ba0e959..8a51c03a 100644
--- a/dist/publish-crates-debian-main.js
+++ b/dist/publish-crates-debian-main.js
@@ -128138,8 +128138,9 @@ async function setGitBranch(path, pattern, gitUrl, gitBranch) {
     }
     for (const dep in manifest.dependencies) {
         if (pattern.test(dep)) {
-            // if the dep has a path set, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
-            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path"))) {
+            // if the dep has a path set or is part of workspace, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
+            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path")) ||
+                !toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "workspace"))) {
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "git"), gitUrl);
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "branch"), gitBranch);
             }
diff --git a/dist/publish-crates-eclipse-main.js b/dist/publish-crates-eclipse-main.js
index bace671e..f29b61bd 100644
--- a/dist/publish-crates-eclipse-main.js
+++ b/dist/publish-crates-eclipse-main.js
@@ -128219,8 +128219,9 @@ async function setGitBranch(path, pattern, gitUrl, gitBranch) {
     }
     for (const dep in manifest.dependencies) {
         if (pattern.test(dep)) {
-            // if the dep has a path set, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
-            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path"))) {
+            // if the dep has a path set or is part of workspace, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
+            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path")) ||
+                !toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "workspace"))) {
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "git"), gitUrl);
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "branch"), gitBranch);
             }
diff --git a/dist/publish-crates-github-main.js b/dist/publish-crates-github-main.js
index f23b2edb..34cfc049 100644
--- a/dist/publish-crates-github-main.js
+++ b/dist/publish-crates-github-main.js
@@ -128219,8 +128219,9 @@ async function setGitBranch(path, pattern, gitUrl, gitBranch) {
     }
     for (const dep in manifest.dependencies) {
         if (pattern.test(dep)) {
-            // if the dep has a path set, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
-            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path"))) {
+            // if the dep has a path set or is part of workspace, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
+            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path")) ||
+                !toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "workspace"))) {
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "git"), gitUrl);
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "branch"), gitBranch);
             }
diff --git a/dist/publish-crates-homebrew-main.js b/dist/publish-crates-homebrew-main.js
index bbf6ec7a..42c8fe92 100644
--- a/dist/publish-crates-homebrew-main.js
+++ b/dist/publish-crates-homebrew-main.js
@@ -128123,8 +128123,9 @@ async function setGitBranch(path, pattern, gitUrl, gitBranch) {
     }
     for (const dep in manifest.dependencies) {
         if (pattern.test(dep)) {
-            // if the dep has a path set, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
-            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path"))) {
+            // if the dep has a path set or is part of workspace, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
+            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path")) ||
+                !toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "workspace"))) {
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "git"), gitUrl);
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "branch"), gitBranch);
             }
diff --git a/dist/set-git-branch-main.js b/dist/set-git-branch-main.js
index 7de5c8e8..55767e74 100644
--- a/dist/set-git-branch-main.js
+++ b/dist/set-git-branch-main.js
@@ -81275,8 +81275,9 @@ async function setGitBranch(path, pattern, gitUrl, gitBranch) {
     }
     for (const dep in manifest.dependencies) {
         if (pattern.test(dep)) {
-            // if the dep has a path set, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
-            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path"))) {
+            // if the dep has a path set or is part of workspace, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
+            if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path")) ||
+                !toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "workspace"))) {
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "git"), gitUrl);
                 await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "branch"), gitBranch);
             }
@@ -81612,14 +81613,16 @@ async function main(input) {
             .filter(r => r);
         for (const path of cargoPaths) {
             await _cargo__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_4__/* .setGitBranch */ .B0(path, input.depsRegExp, input.depsGitUrl, input.depsBranch);
-            (0,_command__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.sh)("git add .", { cwd: repo });
-            (0,_command__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.sh)(`git commit --message 'chore: Update git/branch ${path}/Cargo.toml'`, { cwd: repo, env: _config__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_5__/* .gitEnv */ .B });
-            (0,_command__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.sh)(`cargo check --manifest-path ${path}/Cargo.toml`);
-            (0,_command__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.sh)("git commit Cargo.lock --message 'chore: Update Cargo lockfile'", {
-                cwd: repo,
-                env: _config__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_5__/* .gitEnv */ .B,
-                check: false,
-            });
+            if ((0,_command__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.sh)("git diff", { cwd: repo, check: false })) {
+                (0,_command__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.sh)("git add .", { cwd: repo });
+                (0,_command__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.sh)(`git commit --message 'chore: Update git/branch ${path}/Cargo.toml'`, { cwd: repo, env: _config__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_5__/* .gitEnv */ .B });
+                (0,_command__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.sh)(`cargo check --manifest-path ${path}/Cargo.toml`);
+                (0,_command__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.sh)("git commit Cargo.lock --message 'chore: Update Cargo lockfile'", {
+                    cwd: repo,
+                    env: _config__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_5__/* .gitEnv */ .B,
+                    check: false,
+                });
+            }
         }
         (0,_command__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_3__.sh)(`git push --force ${remote} eclipse-zenoh-bot/post-release-${input.version}`, { cwd: repo });
         await cleanup(input);
diff --git a/src/cargo.ts b/src/cargo.ts
index a35b3136..c1848ed2 100644
--- a/src/cargo.ts
+++ b/src/cargo.ts
@@ -278,8 +278,11 @@ export async function setGitBranch(path: string, pattern: RegExp, gitUrl: string
 
   for (const dep in manifest.dependencies) {
     if (pattern.test(dep)) {
-      // if the dep has a path set, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
-      if (!toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path"))) {
+      // if the dep has a path set or is part of workspace, don't set the git/branch to avoid ambiguities
+      if (
+        !toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "path")) ||
+        !toml.get(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "workspace"))
+      ) {
         await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "git"), gitUrl);
         await toml.set(manifestPath, prefix.concat("dependencies", dep, "branch"), gitBranch);
       }
diff --git a/src/set-git-branch.ts b/src/set-git-branch.ts
index c232b70b..f8d70cd2 100644
--- a/src/set-git-branch.ts
+++ b/src/set-git-branch.ts
@@ -56,15 +56,17 @@ export async function main(input: Input) {
 
     for (const path of cargoPaths) {
       await cargo.setGitBranch(path, input.depsRegExp, input.depsGitUrl, input.depsBranch);
-      sh("git add .", { cwd: repo });
-      sh(`git commit --message 'chore: Update git/branch ${path}/Cargo.toml'`, { cwd: repo, env: gitEnv });
+      if (sh("git diff", { cwd: repo, check: false })) {
+        sh("git add .", { cwd: repo });
+        sh(`git commit --message 'chore: Update git/branch ${path}/Cargo.toml'`, { cwd: repo, env: gitEnv });
 
-      sh(`cargo check --manifest-path ${path}/Cargo.toml`);
-      sh("git commit Cargo.lock --message 'chore: Update Cargo lockfile'", {
-        cwd: repo,
-        env: gitEnv,
-        check: false,
-      });
+        sh(`cargo check --manifest-path ${path}/Cargo.toml`);
+        sh("git commit Cargo.lock --message 'chore: Update Cargo lockfile'", {
+          cwd: repo,
+          env: gitEnv,
+          check: false,
+        });
+      }
     }
 
     sh(`git push --force ${remote} eclipse-zenoh-bot/post-release-${input.version}`, { cwd: repo });