diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
index 362740dcde..61fef9e681 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
@@ -31,6 +31,18 @@ jobs:
       DEBIAN_FRONTEND: noninteractive
 
     steps:
+      - name: Free disk space
+        run: |
+          echo "=== Disk usage before cleanup ==="
+          df -h /
+          # Remove pre-installed bloat common in runner images
+          rm -rf /usr/share/dotnet /usr/local/lib/android /opt/ghc /opt/hostedtoolcache 2>/dev/null || true
+          rm -rf /usr/local/share/boost /usr/share/swift 2>/dev/null || true
+          apt-get autoremove -y 2>/dev/null || true
+          apt-get clean 2>/dev/null || true
+          echo "=== Disk usage after cleanup ==="
+          df -h /
+
       - name: Install system prerequisites
         run: |
           apt-get update -qq
@@ -86,6 +98,14 @@ jobs:
           path: /tmp/ccache-kindred-create
           key: ccache-release-linux-${{ github.run_id }}
 
+      - name: Clean up intermediate build files
+        run: |
+          # Remove pixi package cache and build work dirs to free space for .deb
+          rm -rf package/rattler-build/.pixi/build 2>/dev/null || true
+          find /root/.cache/rattler -type f -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+          echo "=== Disk usage after cleanup ==="
+          df -h /
+
       - name: Build .deb package
         run: |
           ./package/debian/build-deb.sh \