diff --git a/.github/workflows/_release.yml b/.github/workflows/_release.yml
index 4e0adfc603..6d08c5c344 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/_release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/_release.yml
@@ -294,10 +294,6 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           VIRTUAL_ENV=.venv uv pip install dist/*.whl
 
-      - name: Run unit tests
-        run: make tests
-        working-directory: ${{ inputs.working-directory }}
-
       - name: Check for prerelease versions
         # Block release if any dependencies allow prerelease versions
         # (unless this is itself a prerelease version)
@@ -305,6 +301,10 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           uv run python $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/.github/scripts/check_prerelease_dependencies.py pyproject.toml
 
+      - name: Run unit tests
+        run: make tests
+        working-directory: ${{ inputs.working-directory }}
+
       - name: Get minimum versions
         # Find the minimum published versions that satisfies the given constraints
         working-directory: ${{ inputs.working-directory }}