diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yml
index 249c02d..8465aba 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yml
@@ -269,9 +269,9 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
 
-          for attempt in {1..10}; do
-            visible_version="$(npm view "@call-e/calle@${PACKAGE_VERSION}" version 2>/dev/null || true)"
-            latest_version="$(npm view '@call-e/calle' dist-tags.latest 2>/dev/null || true)"
+          for attempt in {1..30}; do
+            visible_version="$(npm view "@call-e/calle@${PACKAGE_VERSION}" version --prefer-online --registry https://registry.npmjs.org 2>/dev/null || true)"
+            latest_version="$(npm view '@call-e/calle' dist-tags.latest --prefer-online --registry https://registry.npmjs.org 2>/dev/null || true)"
             if [[ "$visible_version" == "$PACKAGE_VERSION" && "$latest_version" == "$PACKAGE_VERSION" ]]; then
               exit 0
             fi
@@ -294,8 +294,8 @@ jobs:
           cd "$smoke_dir"
           npm init -y >/dev/null
 
-          for attempt in {1..10}; do
-            if npm install --ignore-scripts --no-audit --no-fund "@call-e/calle@${PACKAGE_VERSION}"; then
+          for attempt in {1..30}; do
+            if npm install --prefer-online --registry https://registry.npmjs.org --ignore-scripts --no-audit --no-fund "@call-e/calle@${PACKAGE_VERSION}"; then
               if node --input-type=module -e 'import { CalleClient } from "@call-e/calle"; const client = new CalleClient({ apiKey: "smoke" }); if (typeof client.goals.runAndWait !== "function") process.exit(1);' && ./node_modules/.bin/calle --help | grep "Usage:" >/dev/null; then
                 exit 0
               fi
diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
index 41f868d..82741e3 100644
--- a/RELEASE.md
+++ b/RELEASE.md
@@ -86,9 +86,10 @@ retrying that exact request. Record the returned Goal Run id and verify that
 
 ## Post-publish verification
 
-The workflow waits for exact-version registry metadata, installs the published
-package in a temporary project, imports `CalleClient`, and runs the packaged
-CLI help command.
+The workflow polls registry metadata and installation availability at ten-second
+intervals for up to 30 attempts each. Checks prefer fresh registry responses
+over cached preflight metadata. It installs the published package in a temporary
+project, imports `CalleClient`, and runs the packaged CLI help command.
 
 A failure in either post-publish check does not mean publication failed. If the
 `npm publish` step succeeded, do not retry the same version. Check the registry