diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index ca01695..7fe01c3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -43,12 +43,15 @@ jobs:
       - name: Cargo fmt
         run: cargo fmt --check
 
-      - name: Cargo clippy
-        run: cargo clippy --all-targets -- -D warnings
+      - name: Cargo build
+        run: cargo build --release
 
       - name: Cargo test
         run: cargo test
 
+      - name: Cargo clippy
+        run: cargo clippy --all-targets -- -D warnings
+
   publish-check:
     name: Publish Check (dry-run)
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -64,6 +67,12 @@ jobs:
           path: ~/.cargo/registry
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-cargo-registry-${{ hashFiles('**/Cargo.lock') }}
 
+      - name: Cache cargo index
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~/.cargo/git
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-cargo-index-${{ hashFiles('**/Cargo.lock') }}
+
       - name: Cargo publish dry-run
         run: cargo publish --dry-run
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index ebb7f74..b82fcb5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ on:
       - closed
     paths:
       - Cargo.toml
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 permissions:
   contents: write
@@ -154,9 +155,38 @@ jobs:
       - name: Approval granted
         run: echo "Release approved for publishing to crates.io"
 
+  ensure-owners:
+    name: Ensure crates.io owners
+    needs: create-tag
+    if: needs.create-tag.outputs.created == 'true'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ needs.create-tag.outputs.tag }}
+      - name: Install Rust toolchain
+        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
+
+      - name: Add crates.io owners (best-effort)
+        env:
+          TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
+          OWNERS: github:univerlab:owners
+        run: |
+          set -eu
+          if [ -z "$TOKEN" ]; then
+            echo "No cargo token found in CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN; skipping owners update"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+          CRATE_NAME=$(grep '^name = ' Cargo.toml | head -1 | sed 's/.*"\(.*\)".*/\1/' | tr -d '\r')
+          echo "crate=$CRATE_NAME"
+          for owner in $(echo "$OWNERS" | tr ',' ' '); do
+            echo "Adding owner: $owner"
+            cargo owner --token "$TOKEN" --add "$owner" || echo "cargo owner failed for $owner (continuing)"
+          done
+
   publish:
     name: Publish to crates.io
-    needs: [create-tag, approve]
+    needs: [create-tag, approve, ensure-owners]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -166,5 +196,24 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install Rust toolchain
         uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
 
+      - name: Check if stable release
+        id: version_check
+        run: |
+          VERSION=$(grep '^version = ' Cargo.toml | sed 's/.*"\(.*\)".*/\1/')
+          if [[ "$VERSION" =~ ^[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+$ ]]; then
+            echo "is_stable=true" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "Version $VERSION is stable — will publish"
+          else
+            echo "is_stable=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "Version $VERSION is prerelease/dev — skipping publish"
+          fi
+
       - name: Cargo publish
-        run: cargo publish --token ${{ secrets.CARGO_TOKEN }}
+        if: steps.version_check.outputs.is_stable == 'true'
+        env:
+          CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
+        run: cargo publish --allow-dirty
+
+      - name: Skipped prerelease
+        if: steps.version_check.outputs.is_stable == 'false'
+        run: echo "⏭️ Skipped crates.io publish for prerelease version"