diff --git a/.github/workflows/pre-release.yml b/.github/workflows/pre-release.yml
index 5ae53dc6e..c68f3b797 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pre-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pre-release.yml
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ on:
         type: boolean
 
 env:
-  DRY_RUN_ARG: ${{ inputs.dryRun && '--dry-run' || '' }}
+  GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
   NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
 
 jobs:
@@ -58,21 +58,19 @@ jobs:
         run: pnpm build
       - name: Create Release and Tags
         shell: bash
-        run: pnpm turbo-version -b ${{inputs.preReleaseVersion}}
+        run: pnpm turbo-version -b ${{ inputs.preReleaseVersion }}
       - name: Publish to NPM
         shell: bash
-        run: pnpx tsx scripts/publish.ts --tag next ${{inputs.dryRun && '--dry-run' || ''}}
-        env:
-          NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
+        run: pnpx tsx scripts/publish.ts --tag next ${{ inputs.dryRun && '--dry-run' || '' }}
       - name: Log git changes
-        if: ${{inputs.dryRun}}
+        if: ${{ inputs.dryRun }}
         run: |
           git diff ..origin/main
           echo "DRY RUN: No changes were made."
       - name: Push Tags and Commits
         id: push-tags
         shell: bash
-        if: ${{!inputs.dryRun}}
+        if: ${{ !inputs.dryRun }}
         run: |
           echo "Git log:"
           git log --oneline -n 5
@@ -84,8 +82,6 @@ jobs:
           git push --tags --no-verify && git push --no-verify
           # pass the release tag to the next step
           echo "RELEASE_TAG=$RELEASE_TAG" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-        env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       - name: Create GitHub Release
         uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
         with:
@@ -94,4 +90,4 @@ jobs:
           prerelease: true
           repository: webdriverio-community/wdio-electron-service
           tag_name: ${{ steps.push-tags.outputs.RELEASE_TAG }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          token: $GITHUB_TOKEN
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index a6cc21bbc..8d8179fd4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -20,9 +20,8 @@ on:
         type: boolean
 
 env:
-  DRY_RUN_ARG: ${{ inputs.dryRun && '--dry-run' || '' }}
+  GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
   NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
-  HUSKY: '0'
 
 jobs:
   release:
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
+          ssh-key: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_KEY }}
           ref: 'main'
           fetch-depth: 0
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
@@ -47,37 +47,36 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           git config --global user.email "bot@webdriver.io"
           git config --global user.name "WebdriverIO Release Bot"
-      - name: Pushing to the protected branch 'main'
-        uses: CasperWA/push-protected@v2
-        with:
-          token: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_PAT }}
-          branch: main
       - name: Install Dependencies
         run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
       - name: Build
         run: pnpm build
       - name: Create Release and Tags
         shell: bash
-        run: pnpm turbo-version -b ${{inputs.releaseVersion}}
+        run: pnpm turbo-version -b ${{ inputs.releaseVersion }}
       - name: Publish to NPM
         shell: bash
-        run: pnpx tsx scripts/publish.ts --tag latest ${{inputs.dryRun && '--dry-run' || ''}}
-        env:
-          NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
+        run: pnpx tsx scripts/publish.ts --tag latest ${{ inputs.dryRun && '--dry-run' || '' }}
       - name: Log git changes
-        if: ${{inputs.dryRun}}
+        if: ${{ inputs.dryRun }}
         run: |
           git diff ..origin/main
           echo "DRY RUN: No changes were made."
       - name: Push Tags and Commits
         id: push-tags
         shell: bash
-        if: ${{!inputs.dryRun}}
+        if: ${{ !inputs.dryRun }}
         run: |
-          git push --tags && git push
-          echo "RELEASE_TAG=$(git describe --tags $(git rev-list --tags --max-count=1))" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-        env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          echo "Git log:"
+          git log --oneline -n 5
+          # get release tag
+          RELEASE_TAG=$(git describe --tags $(git rev-list --tags --max-count=1))
+          echo "Release tag: $RELEASE_TAG"
+          echo "Pushing tags and commits..."
+          # push tags and commits without running the pre-push hook
+          git push --tags --no-verify && git push --no-verify
+          # pass the release tag to the next step
+          echo "RELEASE_TAG=$RELEASE_TAG" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
       - name: Create GitHub Release
         uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
         with:
@@ -86,4 +85,4 @@ jobs:
           prerelease: false
           repository: goosewobbler/zutron
           tag_name: ${{ steps.push-tags.outputs.RELEASE_TAG }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          token: $GITHUB_TOKEN