diff --git a/.github/workflows/dry-run.yml b/.github/workflows/dry-run.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2c9be6b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/dry-run.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+name: Release Dry Run
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - '*'
+
+jobs:
+  build-test:
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        os:
+          - ubuntu-latest
+          - macos-latest
+          - windows-latest
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Windows only, install wget
+        if: ${{ runner.os == 'Windows' }}
+        run: |
+          choco install wget --no-progress
+      - name: Install nodejs dependencies
+        run: |
+          npm install
+          npm run web-install
+          npm run electron-install
+        shell: bash
+      - name: setup for codesigning (macos only)
+        if: ${{ runner.os == 'macOs' }}
+        uses: figleafteam/import-codesign-certs@v2
+        with:
+          p12-file-base64: ${{ secrets.HBE_APPLE_CERTIFICATE_BASE64 }}
+          p12-password: ${{ secrets.HBE_APPLE_CERTIFICATE_PASS }}
+      - name: build acorn (and notarize it- macos only)
+        env:
+          APPLE_DEV_IDENTITY: ${{ secrets.APPLE_DEV_IDENTITY }}
+          APPLE_ID_EMAIL: ${{ secrets.APPLE_ID_EMAIL }}
+          APPLE_ID_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.APPLE_ID_PASSWORD }}
+          DEBUG: electron-osx-sign*,electron-notarize*
+        run: |
+          npm run build
+        shell: bash
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 13086d43..913e3658 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-      # depending on the windows command (when we are ready to build for it), may have to check which os currently on
+      - name: Windows only, install wget
+        if: ${{ runner.os == 'Windows' }}
+        run: |
+          choco install wget --no-progress
       - name: Install nodejs dependencies
         run: |
           npm install
diff --git a/scripts/download-happs.sh b/scripts/download-happs.sh
index ad5d5c96..8bc2e9b7 100644
--- a/scripts/download-happs.sh
+++ b/scripts/download-happs.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 # bump this in tandem with bumping the INTEGRITY_VERSION_NUMBER
-curl -sL --insecure https://github.com/lightningrodlabs/acorn-happ/releases/download/v6.0.0/profiles.happ -o electron/binaries/profiles.happ
-curl -sL --insecure https://github.com/lightningrodlabs/acorn-happ/releases/download/v6.0.0/projects.happ -o electron/binaries/projects.happ
\ No newline at end of file
+mkdir -p electron/binaries
+wget https://github.com/lightningrodlabs/acorn-happ/releases/download/v6.0.0/profiles.happ -O electron/binaries/profiles.happ
+wget https://github.com/lightningrodlabs/acorn-happ/releases/download/v6.0.0/projects.happ -O electron/binaries/projects.happ
\ No newline at end of file