diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml
index b617150..1550527 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml
@@ -51,13 +51,16 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
+        # distribution is per-leg for clarity and easy override. Zulu ships JDK 25
+        # for all six targets (incl. Windows/ARM64, which Temurin does not yet) and
+        # matches publish.yml; change a single leg here if a target needs another.
         include:
-          - { os: ubuntu-latest,    classifier: linux-x86_64 }
-          - { os: ubuntu-24.04-arm, classifier: linux-aarch64 }
-          - { os: macos-13,         classifier: osx-x86_64 }
-          - { os: macos-14,         classifier: osx-aarch64 }
-          - { os: windows-latest,   classifier: windows-x86_64 }
-          - { os: windows-11-arm,   classifier: windows-aarch64 }
+          - { os: ubuntu-latest,    classifier: linux-x86_64,    distribution: zulu }
+          - { os: ubuntu-24.04-arm, classifier: linux-aarch64,   distribution: zulu }
+          - { os: macos-13,         classifier: osx-x86_64,      distribution: zulu }
+          - { os: macos-14,         classifier: osx-aarch64,     distribution: zulu }
+          - { os: windows-latest,   classifier: windows-x86_64,  distribution: zulu }
+          - { os: windows-11-arm,   classifier: windows-aarch64, distribution: zulu }
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout (smoke sources only)
@@ -66,7 +69,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set up JDK 25
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
-          distribution: temurin
+          distribution: ${{ matrix.distribution }}
           java-version: '25'
 
       - name: Set up JBang