diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-mcp-server.yml b/.github/workflows/release-mcp-server.yml
index 5e3848b9..cbb7a5f5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-mcp-server.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-mcp-server.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@ name: Release MCP Server
 on:
   push:
     tags: ["mcp-v*.*.*"]
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      push_image:
+        description: "Push image to registry (unchecked for testing)"
+        required: false
+        default: false
+        type: boolean
 
 env:
   REGISTRY: docker.io
@@ -20,6 +27,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
+      - name: Set up Python 3.11
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.11"
+
       - name: Extract and validate version
         id: version
         run: |
@@ -32,9 +44,9 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
           echo "version=$PROJECT_VERSION" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-          echo "tag=mcp-v$PROJECT_VERSION" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       - name: Log in to Docker Hub
+        if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch' || inputs.push_image
         uses: docker/login-action@v3
         with:
           registry: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}
@@ -50,7 +62,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           images: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}
           tags: |
-            type=raw,value=${{ steps.version.outputs.tag }}
+            type=raw,value=${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}
             type=raw,value=latest
 
       - name: Build and push Docker image
@@ -59,6 +71,6 @@ jobs:
           project: v9jv1mlpwc
           context: ./mcp_server
           platforms: linux/amd64,linux/arm64
-          push: true
+          push: ${{ github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch' || inputs.push_image }}
           tags: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.tags }}
           labels: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.labels }}