diff --git a/.github/workflows/cruft-prs.yml b/.github/workflows/cruft-prs.yml
index 761bc422..0c2d994b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cruft-prs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cruft-prs.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: make cruft PRs for all projects using us
 on:
   release:
-    types: [published]
+    types: [released] # unlike 'published' this does not trigger on pre-releases
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       release: