diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-npm.yml b/.github/workflows/release-npm.yml
index 60e9dc026..d68f66c93 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-npm.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-npm.yml
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ jobs:
           echo -e "//registry.npmjs.org/:_authToken=\${NODE_AUTH_TOKEN}" > ~/.npmrc
 
       - name: Install semver utility
+        env:
+          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{secrets.npm_token}}
         run: pnpm install -g semver@7.5.1
 
       # Note - this is not required but it gives a clean failure prior to attempting a release if the GH workflow runner is not authenticated with NPMjs.com