diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 921c22c..44db3f8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -8,31 +8,16 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch: {}   # manual run for testing; publishing remains tag-only
 
 permissions:
-  contents: write          # create the GitHub Release
+  contents: read
 
 jobs:
-  release:
+  guards:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
-      - uses: actions/setup-java@v4
-        with:
-          distribution: temurin
-          java-version: '21'
-
-      - uses: DeLaGuardo/setup-clojure@13.6.1
-        with:
-          lein: 2.12.0
-
-      - uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: ~/.m2/repository
-          key: ${{ runner.os }}-m2-${{ hashFiles('project.clj') }}
-          restore-keys: ${{ runner.os }}-m2-
-
       - name: Verify tag matches project.clj version
         if: github.ref_type == 'tag'
         run: |
@@ -79,9 +64,6 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
 
-      - name: Test
-        run: lein test
-
       - name: Extract release notes from CHANGELOG
         if: github.ref_type == 'tag'
         run: |
@@ -98,6 +80,47 @@ jobs:
           fi
           cat release-notes.md
 
+      - name: Upload release notes
+        if: github.ref_type == 'tag'
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: release-notes
+          path: release-notes.md
+
+  verify:
+    needs: guards
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/test-matrix.yml
+
+  release:
+    needs: [guards, verify]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+        with:
+          distribution: temurin
+          java-version: '21'
+
+      - uses: DeLaGuardo/setup-clojure@13.6.1
+        with:
+          lein: 2.12.0
+
+      - uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~/.m2/repository
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-m2-${{ hashFiles('project.clj') }}
+          restore-keys: ${{ runner.os }}-m2-
+
+      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        if: github.ref_type == 'tag'
+        with:
+          name: release-notes
+
       - name: Deploy to Clojars
         if: github.ref_type == 'tag'
         env:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-matrix.yml b/.github/workflows/test-matrix.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d40c11f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-matrix.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+name: test matrix
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  lint:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Set up clj-kondo
+        uses: DeLaGuardo/setup-clojure@13.6.1
+        with:
+          clj-kondo: '2026.05.25'
+
+      - name: Run clj-kondo
+        run: clj-kondo --lint src test
+
+  test:
+    name: JDK ${{ matrix.jdk }} / Leiningen ${{ matrix.lein }}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        jdk: ['8', '17', '21']
+        lein: ['2.9.10', '2.11.2', '2.12.0']
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Set up JDK ${{ matrix.jdk }}
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+        with:
+          distribution: temurin
+          java-version: ${{ matrix.jdk }}
+
+      - name: Set up Leiningen ${{ matrix.lein }}
+        uses: DeLaGuardo/setup-clojure@13.6.1
+        with:
+          lein: ${{ matrix.lein }}
+
+      - name: Cache Maven dependencies
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~/.m2
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-m2-lein${{ matrix.lein }}-${{ hashFiles('project.clj') }}
+          restore-keys: ${{ runner.os }}-m2-lein${{ matrix.lein }}-
+
+      - name: Run tests
+        run: lein test
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 541f40a..58efc15 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -6,47 +6,5 @@ on:
   pull_request:
 
 jobs:
-  lint:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Set up clj-kondo
-        uses: DeLaGuardo/setup-clojure@13.6.1
-        with:
-          clj-kondo: '2026.05.25'
-
-      - name: Run clj-kondo
-        run: clj-kondo --lint src test
-
   test:
-    name: JDK ${{ matrix.jdk }} / Leiningen ${{ matrix.lein }}
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    strategy:
-      fail-fast: false
-      matrix:
-        jdk: ['8', '17', '21']
-        lein: ['2.9.10', '2.11.2', '2.12.0']
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Set up JDK ${{ matrix.jdk }}
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
-        with:
-          distribution: temurin
-          java-version: ${{ matrix.jdk }}
-
-      - name: Set up Leiningen ${{ matrix.lein }}
-        uses: DeLaGuardo/setup-clojure@13.6.1
-        with:
-          lein: ${{ matrix.lein }}
-
-      - name: Cache Maven dependencies
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: ~/.m2
-          key: ${{ runner.os }}-m2-lein${{ matrix.lein }}-${{ hashFiles('project.clj') }}
-          restore-keys: ${{ runner.os }}-m2-lein${{ matrix.lein }}-
-
-      - name: Run tests
-        run: lein test
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/test-matrix.yml