diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 12544946..f1937a87 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -59,6 +59,12 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: apps/desktop
         run: pnpm exec playwright install chromium
 
+      - name: Prepare release MCP sidecar
+        working-directory: apps/desktop
+        env:
+          TAURI_ENV_TARGET_TRIPLE: aarch64-apple-darwin
+        run: pnpm run prepare:mcp-sidecar:release
+
       - name: Qualify canonical graph and MCP performance
         working-directory: apps/desktop
         env:
@@ -70,12 +76,6 @@ jobs:
           pnpm qualify:graph:browser
           pnpm bench:mcp
 
-      - name: Prepare release MCP sidecar
-        working-directory: apps/desktop
-        env:
-          TAURI_ENV_TARGET_TRIPLE: aarch64-apple-darwin
-        run: pnpm run prepare:mcp-sidecar:release
-
       - name: Build Tauri app
         id: tauri
         uses: tauri-apps/tauri-action@v0