diff --git a/pkg/release/workspace.go b/pkg/release/workspace.go
index 761979f3e54..ae9c886c01c 100644
--- a/pkg/release/workspace.go
+++ b/pkg/release/workspace.go
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/release-sdk/git"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/release-sdk/github"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/release-sdk/object"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/release-utils/command"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/release-utils/helpers"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/release-utils/tar"
 )
@@ -59,34 +58,9 @@ func PrepareWorkspaceStage(directory string, noMock bool) error {
 
 	logrus.Infof("Cloning repository %s/%s to %s", k8sOrg, k8sRepo, directory)
 
-	var repo *git.Repo
-
-	if !helpers.Exists(directory) {
-		// Use blobless clone for fresh checkouts. This downloads the full
-		// commit graph (needed for changelog generation) but defers blob
-		// downloads until checkout, significantly reducing clone time.
-		repoURL := git.GetRepoURL(k8sOrg, k8sRepo, false)
-		logrus.Infof("Performing blobless clone from %s", repoURL)
-
-		if err := command.New(
-			"git", "clone", "--filter=blob:none", repoURL, directory,
-		).RunSuccess(); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("blobless clone k/k repository: %w", err)
-		}
-
-		var err error
-
-		repo, err = git.OpenRepo(directory)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("open blobless-cloned k/k repository: %w", err)
-		}
-	} else {
-		var err error
-
-		repo, err = git.CloneOrOpenGitHubRepo(directory, k8sOrg, k8sRepo, false)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("clone k/k repository: %w", err)
-		}
+	repo, err := git.CloneOrOpenGitHubRepo(directory, k8sOrg, k8sRepo, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("clone k/k repository: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Prewarm the SPDX licenses cache. As it is one of the main