diff --git a/hooks/pre-push b/hooks/pre-push
index ad57e36..13428e5 100755
--- a/hooks/pre-push
+++ b/hooks/pre-push
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@ if [[ -n "${SKIP_RELEASE:-}" ]]; then
   exit 0
 fi
 
+head_subject="$(git -C "$ROOT_DIR" log -1 --pretty=%s 2>/dev/null || true)"
+if [[ "$head_subject" =~ ^chore:\ release\  ]]; then
+  echo "release: skipped (HEAD is already a release commit)"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
 should_release=false
 release_local_ref=""
 release_remote_ref=""