diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 4a451fa..c63cfe0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -15,55 +15,11 @@ permissions:
   contents: write  # Needed to create/update releases and push commits
 
 jobs:
-  # Run validation first - release only proceeds if this passes
-  validate:
-    name: Validate before release
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' && inputs.tag || github.ref }}
-
-      - name: Run hassfest validation
-        uses: home-assistant/actions/hassfest@master
-
-      - name: Run HACS validation
-        uses: hacs/action@main
-        with:
-          category: integration
-
-  # Run linting - release only proceeds if this passes
-  lint:
-    name: Lint before release
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' && inputs.tag || github.ref }}
-
-      - name: Set up Python
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v6
-        with:
-          python-version: "3.13"
-
-      - name: Install uv
-        uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v7
-        with:
-          version: "0.9.3"
-
-      - name: Install dependencies
-        run: uv sync --frozen
-
-      - name: Run Ruff check
-        run: uv run ruff check .
-
-      - name: Run Ruff format check
-        run: uv run ruff format --check .
+  # Note: We trust that validate.yml and lint.yml have already run on the
+  # main branch commit before the tag was created (either by prepare-release
+  # script or auto-tag workflow). This avoids duplicate workflow runs.
 
   sync-manifest:
-    needs: [validate, lint]  # Only runs if validation and linting pass
     name: Sync manifest.json with tag version
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     outputs: