diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 37a786c..1cd191c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ jobs:
           node-version: 22
 
       - name: Validate release version
+        id: validate
         env:
           RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
         run: |
@@ -41,8 +42,10 @@ jobs:
 
           CURRENT_VERSION="$(node -p "require('./orchestrator/package.json').version")"
           if [ "$CURRENT_VERSION" = "$RELEASE_VERSION" ]; then
-            echo "Version $RELEASE_VERSION is already set in orchestrator/package.json" >&2
-            exit 1
+            echo "Version $RELEASE_VERSION is already set in orchestrator/package.json"
+            echo "version_already_set=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          else
+            echo "version_already_set=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           fi
 
           if git rev-parse "v$RELEASE_VERSION" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
@@ -56,11 +59,13 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
       - name: Bump orchestrator version files
+        if: steps.validate.outputs.version_already_set != 'true'
         env:
           RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
         run: node ./scripts/set-orchestrator-version.mjs "$RELEASE_VERSION"
 
       - name: Commit and push version bump
+        if: steps.validate.outputs.version_already_set != 'true'
         env:
           RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
         run: |