diff --git a/.github/workflows/wheels.yml b/.github/workflows/wheels.yml
index 17113663..4c80a4b7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/wheels.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/wheels.yml
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ jobs:
 
   upload_pypi:
     # TODO: create an sdist that can build without a custom environment
-    if: github.event_name == 'push' && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
+    if: github.event_name == 'release'
     needs: [build_wheels] 
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy: