diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 4392ce4..ca90de0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,16 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version: "20.x"
 
+      - name: Verify tag matches manifest version
+        run: |
+          tag="${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/}"
+          manifest_version=$(node -p "require('./manifest.json').version")
+          if [ "$tag" != "$manifest_version" ]; then
+            echo "Tag ($tag) does not match manifest.json version ($manifest_version)" >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "Tag matches manifest version: $tag"
+
       - name: Build plugin
         run: |
           npm ci
@@ -40,11 +50,11 @@ jobs:
           tag="${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/}"
 
           if gh release view "$tag" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-            echo "Release $tag already exists, skipping draft creation"
+            echo "Release $tag already exists, skipping"
             exit 0
           fi
 
           gh release create "$tag" \
             --title="$tag" \
-            --draft \
-            main.js styles.css manifest.json README.md LICENSE MIT-license-tubesage.md templates/YouTubeTranscript.md
+            --generate-notes \
+            main.js manifest.json styles.css