diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 047a796..b9f2451 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -16,8 +16,12 @@
 # What it does WHEN a Release is published:
 #   build         — builds sdist + wheel, uploads them as workflow artifacts.
 #   pypi-publish  — publishes those artifacts to PyPI via OIDC Trusted Publishing
-#                   (NO API token, NO stored secret). On a manual workflow_dispatch
-#                   with publish-target=testpypi it targets TestPyPI instead.
+#                   (NO API token, NO stored secret). GATED on the repo variable
+#                   PYPI_TRUSTED_PUBLISHER == 'true': until that is set, this job
+#                   is SKIPPED cleanly (gray) so a Release still builds + signs +
+#                   attaches bundles without a red publish failure. On a manual
+#                   workflow_dispatch with publish-target=testpypi it targets
+#                   TestPyPI instead.
 #   sign          — signs the sdist + wheel with Sigstore keyless (ambient OIDC ->
 #                   Fulcio, same trust model as sigstore-fixture.yml / integrity-gate.yml)
 #                   and attaches the .sigstore bundles to the GitHub Release assets.
@@ -113,10 +117,18 @@ jobs:
     permissions:
       id-token: write   # REQUIRED for OIDC Trusted Publishing — mints the token
       contents: read
-    # Skip entirely on a manual run that opted out of publishing.
+    # Gate: only run when OIDC Trusted Publishing is explicitly enabled via the
+    # repo variable PYPI_TRUSTED_PUBLISHER == 'true'. While the variable is unset
+    # (or any value other than 'true'), this job is SKIPPED cleanly (gray, not red)
+    # so a published Release still builds + Sigstore-signs + attaches bundles
+    # without a red "publish" failure. Set it once the Trusted Publisher exists:
+    #   gh variable set PYPI_TRUSTED_PUBLISHER --body true   (see RELEASING.md).
+    # The event-type guard is preserved: skip entirely on a manual run that opted
+    # out of publishing.
     if: >-
-      github.event_name == 'release' ||
-      (github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' && github.event.inputs.publish-target != 'none')
+      vars.PYPI_TRUSTED_PUBLISHER == 'true' &&
+      (github.event_name == 'release' ||
+       (github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' && github.event.inputs.publish-target != 'none'))
 
     steps:
       - name: Download dist artifacts
@@ -132,6 +144,9 @@ jobs:
         with:
           packages-dir: dist/
           # No `password:` — OIDC Trusted Publishing is used (no stored secret).
+          # Re-running a Release for an already-published version no-ops on the
+          # duplicate instead of failing red (e.g. token-published 1.0.0 / 1.0.1).
+          skip-existing: true
 
       # TestPyPI — only on a manual dry run. Same OIDC mechanism, different index.
       # Requires a SEPARATE Trusted Publisher on test.pypi.org (optional; see RELEASING.md).
@@ -141,6 +156,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           packages-dir: dist/
           repository-url: https://test.pypi.org/legacy/
+          # Re-running a dry run no-ops on an already-uploaded TestPyPI version.
+          skip-existing: true
 
   # --------------------------------------------------------------------------
   # Job 3: sign the release artifacts with Sigstore keyless ("heal thyself", W2.3).
diff --git a/RELEASING.md b/RELEASING.md
index 2641c6d..e188f0f 100644
--- a/RELEASING.md
+++ b/RELEASING.md
@@ -62,6 +62,31 @@ If you would rather seed the project manually first:
 > Prefer the pending-publisher path. It avoids ever minting a long-lived token and
 > keeps the entire supply chain OIDC-only from release #1.
 
+### Enable OIDC publishing (the `PYPI_TRUSTED_PUBLISHER` gate)
+
+The `pypi-publish` job in `release.yml` is gated behind the repo variable
+`PYPI_TRUSTED_PUBLISHER` and only runs when it equals `true`. This lets you publish
+a GitHub Release that **builds + Sigstore-signs + attaches `.sigstore` bundles**
+without the publish job failing red before the Trusted Publisher exists.
+
+- **While the variable is unset** (or any value other than `true`): publishing a
+  GitHub Release builds the sdist + wheel, Sigstore-signs them, and attaches the
+  bundles to the Release — but the `pypi-publish` job is **SKIPPED** (gray, not red)
+  and nothing is uploaded to PyPI. Use this to cut signed GitHub Releases for
+  versions already published by token (e.g. `1.0.0`, `1.0.1`).
+- **After you have configured the Trusted Publisher above** (project
+  `mcp-warden-cli`, owner `ernestprovo23`, repo `mcp-warden`, workflow
+  `release.yml`), enable OIDC publishing for future releases by setting the
+  variable:
+  ```bash
+  gh variable set PYPI_TRUSTED_PUBLISHER --body true
+  ```
+  or in the GitHub UI: **Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions → Variables →
+  New repository variable**, name `PYPI_TRUSTED_PUBLISHER`, value `true`.
+
+Re-running a Release for an already-published version is also safe: the publish step
+uses `skip-existing: true`, so a duplicate version no-ops instead of failing.
+
 ### (Optional) TestPyPI dry-run publisher
 
 The workflow has a manual `workflow_dispatch` path that publishes to TestPyPI for a
@@ -107,9 +132,12 @@ Do this on a clean checkout of `main` with all v1 PRs merged.
 
    Publishing the Release fires `release.yml`, which:
    - **build** — builds the sdist + wheel and uploads them as workflow artifacts;
-   - **pypi-publish** — publishes those artifacts to PyPI via OIDC (no token);
+   - **pypi-publish** — publishes those artifacts to PyPI via OIDC (no token).
+     **Skipped unless** the repo variable `PYPI_TRUSTED_PUBLISHER` is `true`
+     (see "Enable OIDC publishing" in section 0). For versions already published
+     by token (`1.0.0`, `1.0.1`) leave it unset so this job skips cleanly;
    - **sign** — signs the sdist + wheel with Sigstore keyless and attaches the
-     `.sigstore` bundle(s) to the Release assets.
+     `.sigstore` bundle(s) to the Release assets (runs regardless of the gate).
 
 ---