diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 210ef460..f98bb00a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -8,12 +8,9 @@ on:
   release:
     types: [published]
 
-env:
-  PUBLISH: ${{ github.event_name == 'release' && github.event.action == 'published' }}
-
 jobs:
   build:
-    if: ${{ env.PUBLISH }}
+    if: ${{ github.event_name == 'release' && github.event.action == 'published' }}
     name: build
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
@@ -41,6 +38,8 @@ jobs:
     if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
     needs: [build]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      PUBLISH: ${{ github.event_name == 'release' && github.event.action == 'published' }}
     strategy:
       matrix:
         python-version: ["3.7", "3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11"]
@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ jobs:
         ./tests/test_pipe_asdf.sh
 
   upload:
-    if: ${{ env.PUBLISH }}
+    if: ${{ github.event_name == 'release' && github.event.action == 'published' }}
     needs: [build, tests]
     environment: pypi
     permissions: