diff --git a/.mokogitea/workflows/auto-release.yml b/.mokogitea/workflows/auto-release.yml
index 0230ae3..44a2d64 100644
--- a/.mokogitea/workflows/auto-release.yml
+++ b/.mokogitea/workflows/auto-release.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 # INGROUP: moko-platform.Release
 # REPO: https://git.mokoconsulting.tech/mokoconsulting-tech/moko-platform
 # PATH: /templates/workflows/universal/auto-release.yml.template
-# VERSION: 09.23.00
+# VERSION: 05.00.00
 # BRIEF: Universal build & release � detects platform from manifest.xml
 #
 # +========================================================================+
@@ -102,13 +102,14 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           php /tmp/moko-platform-api/cli/release_publish.php \
             --path . --stability rc --bump minor --branch rc \
-            --token "${{ secrets.MOKOGITEA_TOKEN }}"
+            --token "${{ secrets.MOKOGITEA_TOKEN }}" \
+            --skip-update-stream
 
       - name: Summary
         if: always()
         run: |
           echo "## Promoted to Release Candidate" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-          echo "Branch renamed to rc, minor bump, RC + lesser stream releases built, updates.xml synced" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+          echo "Branch renamed to rc, minor bump, RC release built (updates.xml managed by Gitea Pages)" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
 
   # ── Merged PR → Build & Release (or promote RC to stable) ────────────────────
   release:
@@ -131,6 +132,19 @@ jobs:
           git config --local user.name "gitea-actions[bot]"
           git remote set-url origin "https://x-access-token:${{ secrets.MOKOGITEA_TOKEN }}@git.mokoconsulting.tech/${{ github.repository }}.git"
 
+      - name: Check for merge conflict markers
+        run: |
+          CONFLICTS=$(grep -rn '<<<<<<< \|>>>>>>> \|^=======$' --include='*.php' --include='*.xml' --include='*.css' --include='*.js' --include='*.json' --include='*.md' --include='*.yml' --include='*.yaml' --include='*.ini' --include='*.txt' . 2>/dev/null | grep -v '.git/' || true)
+          if [ -n "$CONFLICTS" ]; then
+            echo "::error::Merge conflict markers found — aborting release"
+            echo "## Release Blocked: Conflict Markers" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo '```' >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "$CONFLICTS" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo '```' >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "No conflict markers found"
+
       - name: Setup moko-platform tools
         env:
           MOKO_CLONE_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.MOKOGITEA_TOKEN }}
@@ -154,7 +168,8 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           php /tmp/moko-platform-api/cli/release_publish.php \
             --path . --stability stable --bump minor --branch main \
-            --token "${{ secrets.MOKOGITEA_TOKEN }}"
+            --token "${{ secrets.MOKOGITEA_TOKEN }}" \
+            --skip-update-stream
 
       # -- STEP 9: Mirror to GitHub (stable only) --------------------------------
       - name: "Step 9: Mirror release to GitHub"