diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index 1049031..5fe60a4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ jobs:
           node-version: '20'
           registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org'
 
-      # Ensure npm 11.5.1 or later is installed
+      # Ensure npm 11.5.1 or later is installed (Node 20 compatible)
       - name: Update npm
-        run: npm install -g npm@latest
+        run: npm install -g npm@^11.5.1
       - run: npm ci
       - run: npm run build:lib --if-present
       # - run: npm test