diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish_gh_release.yml b/.github/workflows/publish_gh_release.yml
index 37e87ae5..0c8e1462 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish_gh_release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish_gh_release.yml
@@ -34,13 +34,10 @@ jobs:
     if:  ${{ inputs.current_version != inputs.new_version }}
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-    - name: Set up Python 3.10
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v3
-      with:
-        python-version: '3.10'
-    - name: Upgrade pip and install dependencies
+    - name: Verify file access and content
       run: |
-        python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip
+        ls -l
+        cat src/nplinker/__init__.py
     - name: Update package version and change log
       run: |
         make update-version CURRENT_VERSION=${{ inputs.current_version }} NEW_VERSION=${{ inputs.new_version }}