diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
index 07d1b248..3888f73d 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
@@ -184,10 +184,12 @@ jobs:
           sed -i "s/VERSION:[[:space:]]*${CURRENT}/VERSION: ${NEW_VERSION}/" README.md
 
           # Update manifest (templateDetails.xml / *.xml with <extension>)
+          # Replace ANY <version> value — don't assume it matches README
           MANIFEST=$(find . -maxdepth 3 -name "*.xml" ! -path "./.git/*" ! -path "./build/*" -exec grep -l '<extension' {} \; 2>/dev/null | head -1)
           if [ -n "$MANIFEST" ]; then
-            echo "Manifest: ${MANIFEST}"
-            sed -i "s|<version>${CURRENT}</version>|<version>${NEW_VERSION}</version>|" "$MANIFEST"
+            MANIFEST_VER=$(sed -n 's/.*<version>\([^<]*\)<\/version>.*/\1/p' "$MANIFEST" | head -1)
+            echo "Manifest: ${MANIFEST} (current: ${MANIFEST_VER})"
+            sed -i "s|<version>${MANIFEST_VER}</version>|<version>${NEW_VERSION}</version>|" "$MANIFEST"
             sed -i "s|<creationDate>[^<]*</creationDate>|<creationDate>${TODAY}</creationDate>|" "$MANIFEST"
           fi