diff --git a/.mokogitea/workflows/pre-release.yml b/.mokogitea/workflows/pre-release.yml
index 4736e639..ec424e64 100644
--- a/.mokogitea/workflows/pre-release.yml
+++ b/.mokogitea/workflows/pre-release.yml
@@ -102,12 +102,11 @@ jobs:
           esac
 
           # Bump version: minor only on branch elevation, patch for rebuilds
-          CURRENT=$(php ${MOKO_CLI}/version_read.php --path . 2>/dev/null || echo "00.00.00")
+          # Check branch name — if already on the target stability branch, it's a rebuild
+          BRANCH="${{ github.ref_name }}"
           case "$STABILITY" in
             release-candidate)
-              # If already on RC suffix, this is a rebuild — patch bump
-              # If not (e.g. coming from dev), this is an elevation — minor bump
-              if echo "$CURRENT" | grep -q '\-rc$'; then
+              if [ "$BRANCH" = "rc" ]; then
                 BUMP="patch"
               else
                 BUMP="minor"