diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-wheels.yml b/.github/workflows/python-wheels.yml
index 63641a3f5..3ab59bf80 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-wheels.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-wheels.yml
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ jobs:
   # Check if the tag matches the package name,
   # or if the workflow is running on a non-release event.
   check-tag:
-    name: Check tag
+    name: Check tag and temporarily mark the release as draft
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     outputs:
       run: ${{ steps.check-tag.outputs.run }}
@@ -52,6 +52,17 @@ jobs:
         env:
           SHOULD_RUN: ${{ github.ref_type != 'tag' || ( github.ref_type == 'tag' && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/hugr-py-v') ) }}
 
+      - name: Temporarily mark the release as draft
+        if: ${{ github.ref_type == 'tag' && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/hugr-py-v') }}
+        run: |
+          gh release view ${{ github.ref_name }}
+          if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+            echo "No release found for tag ${{ github.ref_name }}"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          # Make the GitHub release a draft until the package has been published to PyPI
+          gh release edit ${{ github.ref_name }} --draft=true
+
   linux:
     needs: check-tag
     if: ${{ needs.check-tag.outputs.run == 'true' }}
diff --git a/release-please-config.json b/release-please-config.json
index 3167bb2f4..bc2ab8a58 100644
--- a/release-please-config.json
+++ b/release-please-config.json
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
             "component": "hugr-py",
             "package-name": "hugr",
             "include-component-in-tag": true,
-            "draft": true,
+            "draft": false,
             "prerelease": false,
             "draft-pull-request": true,
             "extra-files": [