diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index ec52510..efe6c36 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -47,9 +47,6 @@ jobs:
 
       # ── Mutating steps (only reached if tests pass) ───────────────────
 
-      - name: Upgrade npm for OIDC support
-        run: npm install -g npm@latest
-
       - name: Configure Git
         run: |
           git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
diff --git a/documentation/PULL_REQUESTS/2026-05-01-fix-release-npm-upgrade.md b/documentation/PULL_REQUESTS/2026-05-01-fix-release-npm-upgrade.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..895dd65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/documentation/PULL_REQUESTS/2026-05-01-fix-release-npm-upgrade.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+## Problem
+
+Our release workflow failed on the very first run after introducing CI — not on any of our changes, but on an infrastructure step that was already there: an attempt to upgrade npm that no longer works on the current GitHub Actions runner. Tests passed, so nothing broken was shipped, but the version bump and publish never happened.
+
+## Solution
+
+Remove the broken step. The npm version that ships with the Node 22 runner already supports the features we need, so upgrading it is unnecessary — and currently impossible due to an upstream bug in npm's self-upgrade path.
+
+## Impact
+
+Once this merges, re-running the release workflow should publish a new version cleanly.
+
+# Credits
+
+- Nabs (Architect)
+- JENA (Lead Developer)