diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/do-release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/do-release.yml
index be01cfe..69f07a0 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/do-release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/do-release.yml
@@ -46,21 +46,26 @@ jobs:
           requested_tag="$(printf '%s' "${REQUESTED_TAG:-}" | sed 's/^[[:space:]]\+//; s/[[:space:]]\+$//')"
           
           if [[ -n "$requested_tag" ]]; then
-            # Explicit tag was provided
+            # Explicit tag was provided via input or workflow_call
             normalized="${requested_tag#v}"
             tag="v${normalized}"
           elif [[ "$GITHUB_REF" == refs/tags/* ]]; then
             # Running from a tag push
             tag="${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/}"
             normalized="${tag#v}"
-          elif tag_at_head="$(git describe --exact-match --tags HEAD 2>/dev/null)" && [[ -n "$tag_at_head" ]]; then
-            # Current HEAD is at a tag
-            tag="$tag_at_head"
-            normalized="${tag#v}"
           else
-            echo "A release tag is required when the workflow is not running from a tag push" >&2
-            echo "Provide a tag via the 'tag' input or ensure HEAD is at a tagged commit." >&2
-            exit 1
+            # Try to find tags at HEAD (fetch latest first in case called from prepare-release)
+            git fetch origin --tags --quiet 2>/dev/null || true
+            
+            if tag_at_head="$(git describe --exact-match --tags HEAD 2>/dev/null)" && [[ -n "$tag_at_head" ]]; then
+              # Current HEAD is at a tag
+              tag="$tag_at_head"
+              normalized="${tag#v}"
+            else
+              echo "A release tag is required when the workflow is not running from a tag push" >&2
+              echo "Provide a tag via the 'tag' input or ensure HEAD is at a tagged commit." >&2
+              exit 1
+            fi
           fi
 
           echo "tag=${tag}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"