diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 704d98d257..221b1120de 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -34,6 +34,12 @@ jobs:
           go mod tidy
           git diff --exit-code
 
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v6
+        with:
+          node-version: '24'
+          registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org'
+          package-manager-cache: false  # never use caching in release builds
+
       - name: Install pnpm for wasm
         uses: pnpm/action-setup@0e279bb959325dab635dd2c09392533439d90093 # v6.0.8
         with: