diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-step-1.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-step-1.yml
index 02eda05b..f8a62da0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-step-1.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-step-1.yml
@@ -28,38 +28,94 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           VERSION=$(cat VERSION)
           echo "VERSION=${VERSION}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          TAG="v${VERSION}"
+          echo "TAG=${TAG}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "PYTHON=python3" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           git config --global user.name "github-actions[bot]"
           git config --global user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
 
       - name: Tagging
+        shell: bash
+        env:
+          TAG: ${{ env.TAG }}
         run: |
-          TAG="v${{ env.VERSION }}"
+          # Ensure latest commit is tag with '$TAG'
+          NEW_COMMIT=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
           if git rev-parse "$TAG" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-            git tag -d "$TAG"
-            git push --delete origin "$TAG"
+            EXISTING_COMMIT=$(git rev-parse "$TAG")
+            if [ "$NEW_COMMIT" != "$EXISTING_COMMIT" ]; then
+              echo "Deleting existing tag $TAG"
+              git tag -d "$TAG"
+              git push --delete origin "$TAG"
+            else
+              echo "Tag $TAG already exists and points to the same commit. No changes needed."
+              exit 0
+            fi
           fi
+          echo "Creating new tag $TAG"
           git tag "$TAG"
           git push origin "$TAG"
 
-      - name: Create Release
-        id: create_release
-        uses: actions/create-release@v1
+      - name: Ensure Release exists and init release_vars
+        id: release_vars
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          TAG: ${{ env.TAG }}
         with:
-          tag_name: "v${{ env.VERSION }}"
-          release_name: "v${{ env.VERSION }}"
-          body: ${{ github.event.inputs.release_body }}
-          draft: true
-          prerelease: false
+          script: |
+            let tag_name = process.env.TAG;
+            console.log(`tag_name: ${tag_name}`);
+            let upload_url;
 
-      - name: Upload Release Assets
-        uses: actions/upload-release-asset@v1
-        env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-        with:
-          upload_url: ${{ steps.create_release.outputs.upload_url }}
-          asset_path: dist/*
-          asset_name: $(basename ${{ steps.create_release.outputs.upload_url }})
-          asset_content_type: application/octet-stream
+            try {
+              // Check if the release already exists
+              const { data: releases } = await github.rest.repos.listReleases({
+                owner: context.repo.owner,
+                repo: context.repo.repo,
+              });
+              const release = releases.find(release => release.tag_name === tag_name);
+
+              if (release) {
+                if (!release.draft) {
+                  console.log(`Release for tag ${tag_name} is already published.Exiting with error.`);
+                  core.setFailed(`Release for tag ${tag_name} is already published.`);
+                  return;
+                }
+                console.log(`Release for tag ${tag_name} already exists.`);
+                upload_url = release.upload_url;
+
+                // Update the release to point to potentially new commit (noop when no change)
+                release = await github.rest.repos.updateRelease({
+                  owner: context.repo.owner,
+                  repo: context.repo.repo,
+                  release_id: release.id,
+                  tag_name: tag_name,
+                  target_commitish: context.sha,
+                });
+              } else {
+                // Release does not exists, so create it.
+                const response = await github.rest.repos.createRelease({
+                  owner: context.repo.owner,
+                  repo: context.repo.repo,
+                  tag_name: tag_name,
+                  name: tag_name,
+                  draft: true,
+                  prerelease: false,
+                });
+                if (response.status >= 200 && response.status < 300 && response.data.upload_url) {
+                  console.log(`Release created with tag [${tag_name}]`);
+                  upload_url = response.data.upload_url;
+                } else {
+                  core.setFailed(`Failed to create release with tag [${tag_name}] Status: ${response.status}`);
+                  return;
+                }
+              }
+            } catch (error) {
+              core.setFailed(`Error while listing or creating releases: ${error.message}`);
+              return;
+            }
+
+            core.setOutput("upload_url", upload_url);
+
+    outputs:
+      upload_url: ${{ steps.release_vars.outputs.upload_url }}