diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
index a5f3354..bf06dd2 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
@@ -61,16 +61,16 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           if command -v apt-get >/dev/null 2>&1; then
             apt-get update
-            apt-get install -y python3 python3-pip python3-venv patchelf ccache
+            apt-get install -y python3.12 python3.12-venv python3-pip patchelf ccache
           elif command -v dnf >/dev/null 2>&1; then
             dnf install -y python3 python3-pip python3-devel patchelf ccache
           fi
 
-          python3 --version
+          python3.12 --version || python3 --version
 
       - name: Set up venv and install package + build deps
         run: |
-          python3 -m venv .venv
+          python3.12 -m venv .venv 2>/dev/null || python3 -m venv .venv
           . .venv/bin/activate
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           python -m pip install -e ".[build]"