diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index 7d5dca8e08..8566e4920e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -4,11 +4,27 @@ on:
   push:
     tags:
       - 'v*.*.*'
+  workflow_dispatch: # Allows manual trigger of the workflow
+    inputs:
+      custom_version: # Optional input for a custom version
+        description: 'Custom version to publish (e.g., v1.2.3) -- only edit if you know what you are doing'
+        required: false
+      token:
+        description: 'Personal Access Token'
+        required: true
+        default: ""
+        type: string
 
 jobs:
   get-version:
     if: github.repository == 'feast-dev/feast'
     runs-on:  ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ github.event.inputs.token }}
+      GIT_AUTHOR_NAME: feast-ci-bot
+      GIT_AUTHOR_EMAIL: feast-ci-bot@willem.co
+      GIT_COMMITTER_NAME: feast-ci-bot
+      GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL: feast-ci-bot@willem.co
     outputs:
       release_version: ${{ steps.get_release_version.outputs.release_version }}
       version_without_prefix: ${{ steps.get_release_version_without_prefix.outputs.version_without_prefix }}
@@ -17,7 +33,13 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Get release version
         id: get_release_version
-        run: echo ::set-output name=release_version::${GITHUB_REF#refs/*/}
+        run: |
+          if [[ -n "${{ github.event.inputs.custom_version }}" ]]; then
+            echo "Using custom version: ${{ github.event.inputs.custom_version }}"
+            echo "::set-output name=release_version::${{ github.event.inputs.custom_version }}"
+          else
+            echo ::set-output name=release_version::${GITHUB_REF#refs/*/}
+          fi
       - name: Get release version without prefix
         id: get_release_version_without_prefix
         env: