diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index 8f5359b..e6ca240 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -94,7 +94,12 @@ jobs:
         shell: powershell
         run: |
           $ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
-          & powershell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts/release/package-velopack.ps1
+          & "$env:GITHUB_WORKSPACE/scripts/release/package-velopack.ps1"
+          if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "package-velopack.ps1 failed ($LASTEXITCODE)" }
+          $out = Join-Path $env:GITHUB_WORKSPACE "artifacts/velopack/win-x64-stable"
+          foreach ($p in @("*.exe", "*.zip", "*.json", "*.nupkg")) {
+            if (@(Get-ChildItem -Path (Join-Path $out $p) -File -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).Count -eq 0) { throw "Velopack output missing pattern $p in $out" }
+          }
       - name: Create Gitea Release with assets
         uses: akkuman/gitea-release-action@5a83c90484ef4355121df5eb60558c8ce66e81ac
         with:
diff --git a/scripts/release/package-velopack.ps1 b/scripts/release/package-velopack.ps1
index 8b41f1b..50dd536 100644
--- a/scripts/release/package-velopack.ps1
+++ b/scripts/release/package-velopack.ps1
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ $publishArgs = @(
 Write-Host "dotnet publish..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
 if (-not $WhatIf) {
     & dotnet $publishArgs
+    if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "dotnet publish failed ($LASTEXITCODE)" }
 } else {
     Write-Host "[WhatIf] dotnet $publishArgs"
 }
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ $vpkArgs = @(
 Write-Host "vpk pack..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
 if (-not $WhatIf) {
     & dotnet tool run vpk $vpkArgs
+    if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "vpk pack failed ($LASTEXITCODE)" }
 } else {
     Write-Host "[WhatIf] dotnet tool run vpk $vpkArgs"
 }