diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
index be13f34be..b1efbcee1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ name: Deploy to PyPi
 on:
   release:
     types: [published]
+    branches: [fix-release]
 
 jobs:
   build:
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ jobs:
           path: dist
 
       - name: Push build artifacts to PyPi
-        uses: pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish@v1.8.14
+        uses: pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish@v1.10.3
         with:
           user: __token__
           password: ${{ secrets.PYPI_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index ba2dd74ab..360859776 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 Changelog
 =========
 
+1.7.1a1 (2024-10-24)
+--------------------
+
+Others
+
+* Fix release to PyPI after rst directive disabled by @tatiana in #1281
+
+
+
 1.7.0 (2024-10-04)
 ------------------
 
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index cf7b84cb9..37212fdfc 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -85,6 +85,6 @@ ______________
 This project follows `Astronomer's Privacy Policy <https://www.astronomer.io/privacy/>`_
 
 .. Tracking pixel for Scarf
-.. raw:: html
 
-    <img referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://static.scarf.sh/a.png?x-pxid=ae43a92a-5a21-4c77-af8b-99c2242adf93" />
+.. image:: https://static.scarf.sh/a.png?x-pxid=ae43a92a-5a21-4c77-af8b-99c2242adf93
+   :target: https://static.scarf.sh/a.png?x-pxid=ae43a92a-5a21-4c77-af8b-99c2242adf93
diff --git a/cosmos/__init__.py b/cosmos/__init__.py
index b55e13dff..ad4c9ee35 100644
--- a/cosmos/__init__.py
+++ b/cosmos/__init__.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 Contains dags, task groups, and operators.
 """
 
-__version__ = "1.7.0"
+__version__ = "1.7.0a1"
 
 
 from cosmos.airflow.dag import DbtDag