diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
index 176a107fd..0c7dcd772 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: MAN release/deploy
+name: Build and release macOS packages
 
 on:
   release:
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@ on:
       - published
   workflow_dispatch:
 
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+
 jobs:
   deploy-mac:
     runs-on: macos-14
-    timeout-minutes: 120
-    
-    env:
-      RELEASE_ASSETS: true
+    timeout-minutes: 60
     strategy:
       matrix:
         arch: [intel, arm]
@@ -20,33 +20,35 @@ jobs:
       - name: Get repository name.
         run: echo "FASTSURFER_DIR=$GITHUB_WORKSPACE" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.2
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
       - name: Set up python environment
-        id: setup-uv
-        uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v5
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v6.2.0
         with:
           python-version: '3.10'
       - name: install dependencies
         run: |
-          uv venv .venv
-          uv pip install py2app tomli
+          python -m venv .venv
+          echo "VIRTUAL_ENV=$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/.venv" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+          echo "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/.venv/bin" >> "$GITHUB_PATH"
+          . .venv/bin/activate
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          python -m pip install py2app tomli
           
           # update system to the newest version, not pin pointing package version on purpose
           brew update  
           brew upgrade || true
-          brew install aria2
+          brew list aria2 >/dev/null 2>&1 || brew install aria2
       - name: package app for ${{ matrix.arch }}
         run: tools/macos_build/build_release_package.sh ${{ matrix.arch }}
       - name: Move assets.
-        if: env.RELEASE_ASSETS == 'true'
+        if: github.event_name == 'release' && github.event.action == 'published'
         run: |
           mkdir assets
           mv tools/macos_build/installer/* assets/
       - name: Upload release assets.
-        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
-        if: env.RELEASE_ASSETS == 'true'
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v3.0.0
+        if: github.event_name == 'release' && github.event.action == 'published'
         with:
           files: ${{ env.FASTSURFER_DIR }}/assets/*
-
diff --git a/tools/build/install_fs_pruned.sh b/tools/build/install_fs_pruned.sh
index 12a60d3ea..932a154f9 100755
--- a/tools/build/install_fs_pruned.sh
+++ b/tools/build/install_fs_pruned.sh
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ echo
 echo "$fslink"
 echo
 
-# get FreeSurfer and unpack (some of it)
-echo "Downloading FS and unpacking portions ..."
+# get FreeSurfer and selectively unpack only the files needed by FastSurfer
+echo "Downloading FreeSurfer and selectively unpacking required files ..."
 
 # temp freesurfer dl filename (to save the dl)
 if [[ -d /install ]] ; then
diff --git a/tools/macos_build/setup.py b/tools/macos_build/setup.py
index 8b2e3b46b..ea157f4e5 100644
--- a/tools/macos_build/setup.py
+++ b/tools/macos_build/setup.py
@@ -18,6 +18,5 @@
     app=APP,
     data_files=DATA_FILES,
     options={'py2app': OPTIONS},
-    setup_requires=['py2app'],
     py_modules=[],
 )