diff --git a/.github/workflows/check.yaml b/.github/workflows/check.yaml
index 487f3b4..39ba8d0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check.yaml
@@ -42,10 +42,18 @@ jobs:
           {"env": "pkg_meta", "os": "windows-2025-vs2026"},
           {"env": "3.15", "os": "macos-26"}
         ]
+  release:
+    name: 🏷️ Release dry run
+    uses: $/.github/workflows/prepare-release.yaml
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      pull-requests: read
+    with:
+      dry-run: true
   gate:
     name: 🚦 ${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' && 'Required checks pass' || 'Non-PR checks pass' }}
     if: ${{ !cancelled() }} # codespell:ignore cancelled
-    needs: [test]
+    needs: [test, release]
     runs-on: ubuntu-26.04
     steps:
       - name: 🚦 Require all needed jobs to pass
diff --git a/.github/workflows/prepare-release.yaml b/.github/workflows/prepare-release.yaml
index 9b0bba8..c196970 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/prepare-release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/prepare-release.yaml
@@ -12,15 +12,22 @@ on:
           - minor
           - patch
         default: auto
+  workflow_call:
+    inputs:
+      dry-run:
+        description: Assemble the release without pushing, for the pull request gate
+        type: boolean
+        required: true
 permissions: {}
 jobs:
   prepare:
     name: 🏷️ Prepare Towncrier release
-    uses: tox-dev/github-workflows/.github/workflows/prepare-towncrier-release.yaml@bceb5c005e19823dc8835f536f53f172ae223927 # 6.5.0
+    uses: tox-dev/github-workflows/.github/workflows/prepare-towncrier-release.yaml@2a3b863f4563ce9891d2cee1ed381b6f82654836 # 6.6.0
     permissions:
       contents: read
       pull-requests: read
     secrets:
       RELEASE_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_APP_PRIVATE_KEY }}
     with:
-      bump: ${{ inputs.bump }}
+      bump: ${{ inputs.bump || 'auto' }}
+      dry-run: ${{ inputs.dry-run == true }}