diff --git a/script/publish.ts b/script/publish.ts
index 4982fefe25..1736cbe68f 100755
--- a/script/publish.ts
+++ b/script/publish.ts
@@ -4,10 +4,6 @@ import { $ } from "bun"
 import { Script } from "@opencode-ai/script"
 import { buildNotes, getLatestRelease } from "./changelog"
 
-if (!Script.release) {
-  throw new Error("Missing OPENCODE_RELEASE environment variable")
-}
-
 const highlightsTemplate = `
 <!--
 Add highlights before publishing. Delete this section if no highlights.
@@ -69,13 +65,15 @@ await Bun.file(extensionToml).write(toml)
 await $`bun install`
 await import(`../packages/sdk/js/script/build.ts`)
 
-await $`git commit -am "release: v${Script.version}"`
-await $`git tag v${Script.version}`
-await $`git fetch origin`
-await $`git cherry-pick HEAD..origin/dev`.nothrow()
-await $`git push origin HEAD --tags --no-verify --force-with-lease`
-await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 5_000))
-await $`gh release edit v${Script.version} --draft --title "v${Script.version}" --notes ${notes.join("\n") || "No notable changes"}`
+if (Script.release) {
+  await $`git commit -am "release: v${Script.version}"`
+  await $`git tag v${Script.version}`
+  await $`git fetch origin`
+  await $`git cherry-pick HEAD..origin/dev`.nothrow()
+  await $`git push origin HEAD --tags --no-verify --force-with-lease`
+  await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 5_000))
+  await $`gh release edit v${Script.version} --draft --title "v${Script.version}" --notes ${notes.join("\n") || "No notable changes"}`
+}
 
 console.log("\n=== cli ===\n")
 await import(`../packages/opencode/script/publish.ts`)