diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index b21d3f6..71d976d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -40,9 +40,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build packages
         run: pnpm run build
 
+      - name: Ensure NPM token is present
+        run: |
+          test -n "${NPM_TOKEN}" || { echo "::error::NPM_TOKEN secret is missing or empty"; exit 1; }
+        env:
+          NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
+
       - name: Authenticate to npm
         run: |
-          echo "//registry.npmjs.org/:_authToken=${NPM_TOKEN}" > ~/.npmrc
+          npm config set //registry.npmjs.org/:_authToken "${NPM_TOKEN}"
+          npm config set @create-markdown:registry https://registry.npmjs.org/
         env:
           NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
 
@@ -57,3 +64,4 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
+          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}