diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index a295c4a..2bdec83 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           miniforge-variant: Miniforge3
           python-version: "3.13.2"
-          auto-activate: false
+          auto-activate: true
+          activate-environment: base
           conda-remove-defaults: true
           channels: conda-forge,salilab
           channel-priority: strict
@@ -57,6 +58,8 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           conda install -y conda-build anaconda-client
           conda config --set anaconda_upload no
+          conda list conda-build
+          conda build --help
 
       - name: Build package
         shell: bash -l {0}