diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index b00e3d8c..cf6e304a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,11 @@ jobs:
   build-and-test:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
+      # No later step uses git with the token, so checkout does not keep it.
+      # This also proves, on every PR, the npm ci that release.yml runs the same way.
       - uses: actions/checkout@v7
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v7
         with:
           node-version: '22'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index cd0e6ef8..a7e75f8d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,12 @@ jobs:
   release:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
+      # This job's token can write (it creates the Release), so checkout does
+      # not leave it on disk for npm ci's install scripts and the build to read.
+      # The release action below is handed the token as an input instead.
       - uses: actions/checkout@v7
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
 
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v7
         with:
@@ -48,6 +53,8 @@ jobs:
         run: npm run verify
 
       - name: Create GitHub Release
-        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v3
+        # A third-party action that holds the write token, pinned to the commit
+        # its v3.0.3 tag points at, so a moved tag cannot change what runs here.
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@efb35369e0ad2afab669f228072c1b0d510eae64 # v3.0.3
         with:
           generate_release_notes: true