diff --git a/.github/scripts/publish_release.py b/.github/scripts/publish_release.py
index 27522fe..d8fbe17 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/publish_release.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/publish_release.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 REPOSITORY = "krav01/usage-billing"
 TAG = "v0.3.0"
-BRANCH = "release/v0.3.0-publisher-fix"
+BRANCH = "release/v0.3.0-final"
 
 
 def github(method, path, data=None, optional=False):
@@ -68,13 +68,19 @@ def publish(event, notes, api=github):
         return "Skipped: not the unique release branch merge"
     # List responses may omit merge metadata. Fetch the authoritative PR detail.
     pr = api("GET", f"pulls/{prs[0]['number']}")
-    if not pr["merged"] or pr["merge_commit_sha"] != sha:
+    if not pr["merged"]:
         return "Skipped: not the unique release branch merge"
     if (
         pr["head"]["ref"] != BRANCH or pr["head"]["repo"]["full_name"] != REPOSITORY
         or pr["base"]["ref"] != "main" or pr["base"]["repo"]["full_name"] != REPOSITORY
     ):
         return "Skipped: unexpected release PR source"
+    # Bind the release to the actual Git merge object. PR responses can omit
+    # merge_commit_sha; the second parent must still be the exact reviewed head.
+    commit = api("GET", f"git/commits/{sha}")
+    parents = commit["parents"]
+    if commit["sha"] != sha or len(parents) != 2 or parents[1]["sha"] != pr["head"]["sha"]:
+        return "Skipped: commit does not merge the reviewed release head"
     query = urlencode({"head_sha": sha, "event": "push", "per_page": 100})
     runs = api("GET", f"actions/runs?{query}")["workflow_runs"]
     verified = []
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test_publish_release.py b/.github/scripts/test_publish_release.py
index 1855beb..5602825 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/test_publish_release.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/test_publish_release.py
@@ -28,9 +28,10 @@ def check(path, sha=SHA, event="push", number=1):
 class FakeAPI:
     def __init__(self):
         self.main = SHA
+        self.parents = ["c" * 40, HEAD]
         self.prs = [{
             "number": 15, "merged": True,
-            "merged_at": "2026-09-03T00:00:00Z", "merge_commit_sha": SHA,
+            "merged_at": "2026-09-03T00:00:00Z",
             "head": {"sha": HEAD, "ref": BRANCH, "repo": {"full_name": REPOSITORY}},
             "base": {"ref": "main", "repo": {"full_name": REPOSITORY}},
             "html_url": "https://example.test/pr",
@@ -62,6 +63,8 @@ def __call__(self, method, path, data=None, optional=False):
             return [{"number": pr["number"]} for pr in self.prs]
         if path == "pulls/15":
             return self.prs[0]
+        if path == f"git/commits/{SHA}":
+            return {"sha": SHA, "parents": [{"sha": parent} for parent in self.parents]}
         if path.startswith("actions/runs?"):
             query = parse_qs(urlsplit(path).query)
             return {"workflow_runs": self.runs if query["head_sha"] == [SHA] else self.dependencies}
@@ -97,13 +100,15 @@ def forbidden(*args, **kwargs):
         publish(event, "", forbidden)
 
     def test_current_main_and_unique_release_merge_are_required(self):
-        for field in ("main", "merge", "unmerged", "multiple", "fork"):
+        for field in ("main", "merge", "nonmerge", "unmerged", "multiple", "fork"):
             with self.subTest(field=field):
                 api = FakeAPI()
                 if field == "main":
                     api.main = "c" * 40
                 elif field == "merge":
-                    api.prs[0]["merge_commit_sha"] = "c" * 40
+                    api.parents[1] = "c" * 40
+                elif field == "nonmerge":
+                    api.parents.pop()
                 elif field == "unmerged":
                     api.prs[0]["merged"] = False
                 elif field == "multiple":
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-v0.3.0.yml b/.github/workflows/release-v0.3.0.yml
index 78e15ec..867a116 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-v0.3.0.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-v0.3.0.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
       github.event.workflow_run.event == 'push' &&
       github.event.workflow_run.head_repository.full_name == github.repository &&
       github.event.workflow_run.head_branch == 'main' &&
-      contains(github.event.workflow_run.head_commit.message, 'from krav01/release/v0.3.0-publisher-fix') &&
+      contains(github.event.workflow_run.head_commit.message, 'from krav01/release/v0.3.0-final') &&
       github.event.workflow_run.head_sha == github.sha &&
       github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest