diff --git a/jobs/release/release.yml b/jobs/release/release.yml
index 96d7a3122..f7a827bf7 100644
--- a/jobs/release/release.yml
+++ b/jobs/release/release.yml
@@ -23,9 +23,41 @@ extends:
       name: VSEngSS-MicroBuild2022-1ES
 
     stages:
-    - stage: release
+    - stage: Validate
       jobs:
-      - job: release
+        - job: UpdateBuildNumber
+          displayName: Update Build Number
+          steps:
+            - download: BuildReleasePipeline
+              artifact: vsix
+            - powershell: |
+                $newVersion = Get-Content -Path $(Pipeline.Workspace)\BuildReleasePipeline\vsix\version.txt
+                Write-Host "New version is: $newVersion"
+
+                $str = Get-Date -Format "yyMMdd-HHmm"
+                Write-Host "##vso[build.updatebuildnumber]$newVersion - $str"
+              ignoreLASTEXITCODE: true
+              displayName: "Set the release name"
+        - job: WaitForValidation
+          displayName: Wait for vscode-cmake-tools validation
+          dependsOn: UpdateBuildNumber
+          pool: server
+          steps:
+            - task: ManualValidation@0
+              displayName: "Manual Validation"
+              inputs:
+                notifyUsers: cmaketools@microsoft.com
+                instructions: |
+                  Download and test the vsix with the matching version number from the latest release build: https://devdiv.visualstudio.com/DevDiv/_build?definitionId=20419
+
+                  The version should match the name of this release.
+
+    - stage: Release
+      dependsOn: Validate
+      condition: succeeded('Validate')
+      jobs:
+      - job: ReleaseCMakeTools
+        displayName: Release vscode-cmake-tools Tools
         templateContext:
           type: releaseJob
           isProduction: true
@@ -36,22 +68,6 @@ extends:
             targetPath: $(Build.StagingDirectory)\vsix
 
         steps:
-        - powershell: |
-            $newVersion = Get-Content -Path $(Build.StagingDirectory)\vsix\version.txt
-            Write-Host "New version is: $newVersion"
-            
-            $str = Get-Date -Format "yyMMdd-HHmm"
-            Write-Host "##vso[build.updatebuildnumber]$newVersion - $str"
-          ignoreLASTEXITCODE: true
-          displayName: 'Set the release name'
-        - task: ManualValidation@0
-          displayName: 'Manual Validation'
-          inputs:
-            notifyUsers: cmaketools@microsoft.com
-            instructions: |
-              Download and test the vsix from the latest release build: https://devdiv.visualstudio.com/DevDiv/_build?definitionId=17431
-              
-              The version should match the name of this release.
         - task: NodeTool@0
           displayName: 'Use Node 14.x'
           inputs: