diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 1342616..e3ecdc2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ jobs:
   build:
     name: Build distribution
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
+    if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') || github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
     - name: Set up Python
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ jobs:
 
   publish-to-testpypi:
     name: Publish Python distribution to TestPyPI
+    if: github.repository == 'ricklupton/rmscene' # publish to testpypi only on the original repo
     needs:
     - build
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest