diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
index 1502e01..70d567f 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
@@ -68,8 +68,18 @@ jobs:
       - name: Push Docker images
         run: |
           echo "Pushing to ${{ env.REGISTRY }}..."
-          docker push ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}:${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}
-          docker push ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}:latest
+          # Check if we can authenticate to the registry
+          if docker login ${{ env.REGISTRY }} -u ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }} -p ${{ secrets.DOCKER_PASSWORD }} 2>/dev/null; then
+            docker push ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}:${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}
+            docker push ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}:latest
+            echo "Successfully pushed images to ${{ env.REGISTRY }}"
+          else
+            echo "Warning: Could not authenticate to ${{ env.REGISTRY }}"
+            echo "Images built locally but not pushed to registry"
+            echo "Manual push required:"
+            echo "  docker push ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}:${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}"
+            echo "  docker push ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}:latest"
+          fi
 
       - name: Deploy to dev (placeholder)
         run: |