diff --git a/.github/workflows/_release.yml b/.github/workflows/_release.yml
index a7ee90cc19d..f8125837861 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/_release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/_release.yml
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ jobs:
               f.write(f"pkg-name={pkg_name}\n")
               f.write(f"version={version}\n")
   release-notes:
+    # release-notes must run before publishing because its check-tags step
+    # validates version/tag state — do not remove this dependency.
     needs:
       - build
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -193,6 +195,8 @@ jobs:
           } >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
   test-pypi-publish:
+    # release-notes must run before publishing because its check-tags step
+    # validates version/tag state — do not remove this dependency.
     needs:
       - build
       - release-notes
diff --git a/libs/model-profiles/uv.lock b/libs/model-profiles/uv.lock
index a10ed7ed868..0b4f6b2f9e1 100644
--- a/libs/model-profiles/uv.lock
+++ b/libs/model-profiles/uv.lock
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ typing = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "langchain-core"
-version = "1.2.16"
+version = "1.2.17"
 source = { editable = "../core" }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "jsonpatch" },