diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 8bd11f3e5..42d8b1a52 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - main
+      # forcing release because of the issue documented here:
+      # https://github.com/TBD54566975/web5-js/pull/517
+      - release-1d59f714
 
   # Allows you to run this workflow manually from the Actions tab
   workflow_dispatch:
@@ -74,6 +77,8 @@ jobs:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           KICK_API_RELEASE: ${{ github.event.inputs.initiate_api_release || '' }}
 
+      # forcing release because of the issue documented here:
+      # https://github.com/TBD54566975/web5-js/pull/517
       - name: Create Release Pull Request or Publish to npm
         uses: changesets/action@aba318e9165b45b7948c60273e0b72fce0a64eb9 # v1.4.7
         id: changesets
@@ -86,30 +91,6 @@ jobs:
           NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
           NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
 
-      - name: Label Changesets PR with API release
-        if: github.event.inputs.initiate_api_release && steps.changesets.outputs.pullRequestNumber != ''
-        uses: actions/github-script@60a0d83039c74a4aee543508d2ffcb1c3799cdea # v7.0.1
-        with:
-          script: |
-            github.rest.issues.addLabels({
-              issue_number: ${{ steps.changesets.outputs.pullRequestNumber }},
-              owner: context.repo.owner,
-              repo: context.repo.repo,
-              labels: ['api-release']
-            })
-
-      - name: Publish `next` preview
-        if: steps.changesets.outputs.published != 'true' && steps.changesets.outputs.pullRequestNumber != '' && steps.changesets.outputs.hasChangesets == 'true'
-        env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-          NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
-          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
-        run: |
-          git checkout main
-          SHORT_SHA=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
-          pnpm changeset version --snapshot next-$SHORT_SHA
-          pnpm changeset publish --no-git-tag --tag next
-
   publish-docs:
     permissions:
       contents: write
diff --git a/scripts/changesets-api-release-check.sh b/scripts/changesets-api-release-check.sh
index 2606e0dd6..367477680 100755
--- a/scripts/changesets-api-release-check.sh
+++ b/scripts/changesets-api-release-check.sh
@@ -34,12 +34,3 @@ if [[ -n $API_RELEASE_PR || $KICK_API_RELEASE == "true" ]]; then
     echo "release_web5_api=$RELEASE_WEB5_API" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
     exit 0
 fi
-
-if [[ $API_RELEASES_COUNT == $ALL_RELEASES_COUNT ]]; then
-    echo "Only @web5/api release detected, checking for API Release labeled PR or Kick trigger..."
-    if [[ -z $RELEASE_WEB5_API ]]; then
-        echo "No API Release labeled PR found and KICK_API_RELEASE is false, skipping the release..."
-        echo "skip_release=true" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-        exit 0
-    fi
-fi