diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-release-to-github.yaml b/.github/workflows/publish-release-to-github.yaml
index 9c5e0a742a..10b27eda29 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-release-to-github.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-release-to-github.yaml
@@ -64,4 +64,9 @@ jobs:
           RELEASE_NAME="GOV.UK Frontend $GH_TAG"
           RELEASE_BODY=$(cat release-notes-body)
 
-          gh release create "$GH_TAG" ./release-"${GH_TAG}".zip --title "GOV.UK Frontend ${RELEASE_NAME}" --notes "$RELEASE_BODY" --draft
+          if gh release view "$GH_TAG" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+            echo "⚠️ Release $GH_TAG already exists. Please delete the release via the GitHub UI and re-run this workflow"
+            exit 1
+          else
+            gh release create "$GH_TAG" ./release-"${GH_TAG}".zip --title "GOV.UK Frontend ${RELEASE_NAME}" --notes "$RELEASE_BODY" --draft
+          fi