diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-instrumentation-openai.yml b/.github/workflows/release-instrumentation-openai.yml
index 4ef3ef62..96131427 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-instrumentation-openai.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-instrumentation-openai.yml
@@ -29,9 +29,8 @@ jobs:
           node-version: 'v18.20.4'
           registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org'
 
-      - name: npm publish
-        working-directory: $PKGDIR
-        run: npm publish
+      - run: npm publish
+        working-directory: ${{ env.PKGDIR }}
         env:
           # https://docs.github.com/en/actions/publishing-packages/publishing-nodejs-packages#publishing-packages-to-the-npm-registry
           NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-mockotlpserver.yml b/.github/workflows/release-mockotlpserver.yml
index 7881e7dd..8d4465e4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-mockotlpserver.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-mockotlpserver.yml
@@ -29,9 +29,8 @@ jobs:
           node-version: 'v18.20.4'
           registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org'
 
-      - name: npm publish
-        working-directory: $PKGDIR
-        run: npm publish
+      - run: npm publish
+        working-directory: ${{ env.PKGDIR }}
         env:
           # https://docs.github.com/en/actions/publishing-packages/publishing-nodejs-packages#publishing-packages-to-the-npm-registry
           NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}