From fae5a62c8e44aa5e7108e9d4e11db2a547feb200 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Arjuna Keshavan <33526713+arjkesh@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:24:01 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] Fail release workflow if tag or release already exists

---
 .github/workflows/release-wheel.yml | 28 +++++++++++++---------------
 1 file changed, 13 insertions(+), 15 deletions(-)

diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-wheel.yml b/.github/workflows/release-wheel.yml
index 17030999..705c76d0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-wheel.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-wheel.yml
@@ -207,30 +207,28 @@ jobs:
           echo "tag=${TAG}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-      # 4. Remove any pre-existing release and git tag for this version so that
-      #    the re-created release always points to the correct commit.
+      # 4. Abort if a release or git tag for this version already exists.
+      #    This prevents accidentally overwriting a published release.
       # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-      - name: Delete existing release and tag (if any)
+      - name: Fail if release or tag already exists
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           TAG="${{ steps.tag.outputs.tag }}"
           REPO="${{ github.repository }}"
 
-          # --cleanup-tag deletes both the GitHub release object and the git tag.
-          if gh release delete "${TAG}" --cleanup-tag --yes 2>/dev/null; then
-            echo "Deleted existing release and tag: ${TAG}"
-          else
-            echo "No release found for ${TAG}"
-            # A bare git tag might still exist from a previously interrupted run.
-            if gh api --method DELETE \
-                "repos/${REPO}/git/refs/tags/${TAG}" 2>/dev/null; then
-              echo "Deleted orphan git tag: ${TAG}"
-            else
-              echo "No existing tag to delete for: ${TAG}"
-            fi
+          if gh release view "${TAG}" --repo "${REPO}" &>/dev/null; then
+            echo "ERROR: GitHub release '${TAG}' already exists. Delete it manually before re-releasing." >&2
+            exit 1
           fi
 
+          if gh api "repos/${REPO}/git/refs/tags/${TAG}" &>/dev/null; then
+            echo "ERROR: Git tag '${TAG}' already exists. Delete it manually before re-releasing." >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          echo "No existing release or tag found for ${TAG}, proceeding."
+
       # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       # 5. Publish the release and upload all wheels as assets
       # -----------------------------------------------------------------------