diff --git a/bb64/publish.sh b/bb64/publish.sh
index 8ce41b1..d4a0025 100755
--- a/bb64/publish.sh
+++ b/bb64/publish.sh
@@ -105,12 +105,20 @@ echo "Getting or creating release $TAG on Gitea..."
 EXISTING_RELEASE=$(curl -s -X GET "$API_URL/releases/tags/$TAG" \
     -H "Authorization: token $RELEASE_WRITE_TOKEN")
 
+echo "Existing release check response: $EXISTING_RELEASE" >&2
+
 if echo "$EXISTING_RELEASE" | grep -q '"id":[0-9]*'; then
     # Release already exists, get its ID
     RELEASE_ID=$(echo "$EXISTING_RELEASE" | grep -o '"id":[0-9]*' | head -1 | cut -d: -f2)
     echo "Release $TAG already exists with ID: $RELEASE_ID"
 else
-    # Create new release
+    # Create new release only if tag was just created
+    if [ "$TAG_EXISTS_ON_REMOTE" = true ]; then
+        echo "Tag exists on remote but no release found - this shouldn't happen" >&2
+        echo "API response was: $EXISTING_RELEASE" >&2
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    
     echo "Creating new release $TAG on Gitea..."
     RELEASE_RESPONSE=$(curl -s -X POST "$API_URL/releases" \
         -H "Content-Type: application/json" \