diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index eec3be5..628f1f5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ jobs:
   macos:
     name: macOS universal
     needs: version
-    runs-on: macos-15
+    runs-on: macos-release  # org larger runner (M2 Pro), release.yml@release only; capped by the actions_macos_xl budget
     environment: release
     env:
       DECKCRAFT_VERSION: ${{ needs.version.outputs.version }}