diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index 6004e1d..b02fcd1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ jobs:
           fi
           "${GIT[@]}" config --global user.name 'React Native Bot'
           "${GIT[@]}" config --global user.email 'bot@reactnative.dev'
+          if [ -z "$("${GIT[@]}" status --porcelain)" ]; then
+            echo "No changes, a previous release might have failed at the publish step. Continue to retry."
+            exit 0
+          fi
           "${GIT[@]}" commit -am "Bumping template to $VERSION"
           "${GIT[@]}" push
           "${GIT[@]}" tag $VERSION
@@ -69,4 +73,4 @@ jobs:
             npm publish --tag "$GITHUB_REF_NAME" "${args[@]}"
           else
             npm publish "${args[@]}"
-          if
+          fi