diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 8d0a7ed54..17f766ba9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v3
     - uses: actions/setup-node@v3
       with:
-        node-version: '16.x'
+        node-version: '18.x'
         registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org'
     - name: Check released tag matches ALICE O2 naming pattern
       run: |
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ jobs:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v3
     - uses: actions/setup-node@v3
       with:
-        node-version: '16.x'
+        node-version: '18.x'
         registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org'
     - name: Install production deps
       run: npm install --only=production