diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index e0a1b0478e..eff099a91c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version: '20'
           cache: 'npm'
-          registry-url: 'https://wombat-dressing-room.appspot.com'
 
       - name: Install Dependencies
         run: npm ci
@@ -72,10 +71,12 @@ jobs:
             echo "NPM_DRY_RUN=--dry-run" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           fi
 
+      - name: Configure npm for publishing
+        run: echo "//wombat-dressing-room.appspot.com/:_authToken=${{ secrets.WOMBAT_TOKEN }}" > .npmrc
+
       - name: Build, Prepare, and Publish
         run: npm run publish:release
         env:
-          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.WOMBAT_TOKEN }}
           NPM_PUBLISH_TAG: ${{ steps.version.outputs.NPM_TAG }}
           NPM_DRY_RUN: ${{ steps.run_type.outputs.NPM_DRY_RUN }}