diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-release.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-release.yml
index 8688694..2a451cf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-release.yml
@@ -301,7 +301,6 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     env:
       KEY_FINGERPRINT: ${{ needs.init.outputs.key_fingerprint }}
-      ARTIFACT_SHA256SUMS: ${{ needs.create-artifacts.outputs.ARTIFACT_SHA256SUMS }}
     steps:
       - id: generate-github-app-token
         uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v1
@@ -312,7 +311,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           path: repo
           ref: ${{ needs.push-release-commit.outputs.release_commit_id }}
-          fetch-depth: 2 # To fast-forward the main branch, we need the commit on main, as well as the release commit
+          fetch-depth: 1 # For tag-signing, we only need the release commit - branch operations done with GitHub API
           token: ${{ steps.generate-github-app-token.outputs.token }}
           persist-credentials: true # Allow us to push as the GitHub App, and bypass branch ruleset
       - uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
@@ -321,6 +320,8 @@ jobs:
           key: unsigned-${{ env.RUN_ATTEMPT_UID }}
           fail-on-cache-miss: true
       - name: Verify artifact hashes before signing
+        env:
+          ARTIFACT_SHA256SUMS: ${{ needs.create-artifacts.outputs.ARTIFACT_SHA256SUMS }}
         run: |
           sudo apt-get install hashdeep -q > /dev/null
           ARTIFACT_SHA256SUMS_FILE=$( mktemp )
@@ -342,11 +343,26 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           echo "KEY_FINGERPRINT=$KEY_FINGERPRINT"
           find $LOCAL_ARTIFACTS_STAGING_PATH -type f -exec gpg -a --local-user "$KEY_FINGERPRINT" --detach-sign {} \;
+      - name: Update default branch with release commit from the temporary-release branch
+        if: needs.init.outputs.release_type == 'FULL_MAIN_BRANCH'
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ steps.generate-github-app-token.outputs.token }}
+          GH_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
+          RELEASE_COMMIT_ID: ${{ needs.push-release-commit.outputs.release_commit_id }}
+        run: |
+          echo "Full Main-Branch release, fast-forwarding the default branch to the release commit..."
+          if gh api --method PATCH /repos/:owner/:repo/git/refs/heads/$GITHUB_REF_NAME -f "sha=$RELEASE_COMMIT_ID"; then
+            echo "...fast-forward of default branch to release commit succeeded"
+          else
+            echo "...fast-forward failed (commits added to default branch while release running?), will attempt a merge instead"
+            gh api --method POST /repos/:owner/:repo/merges -f "base=$GITHUB_REF_NAME" -f "head=$RELEASE_COMMIT_ID"
+          fi
       - name: Push signed tag
         env:
           RELEASE_TAG: ${{ needs.push-release-commit.outputs.release_tag }}
           RELEASE_COMMIT_ID: ${{ needs.push-release-commit.outputs.release_commit_id }}
           KEY_EMAIL: ${{ needs.init.outputs.key_email }}
+          ARTIFACT_SHA256SUMS: ${{ needs.create-artifacts.outputs.ARTIFACT_SHA256SUMS }}
         run: |
           cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/repo
           git config user.email "$KEY_EMAIL"
@@ -354,13 +370,6 @@ jobs:
           git config tag.gpgSign true
           git config user.signingkey "$KEY_FINGERPRINT"
           
-          if [ "${{ needs.init.outputs.release_type }}" == "FULL_MAIN_BRANCH" ]
-          then
-            echo "Full Main-Branch release, fast-forwarding the default branch to the release commit"
-            git log --oneline -n 3
-            git push origin $RELEASE_COMMIT_ID:refs/heads/$GITHUB_REF_NAME
-          fi
-          
           cat << EndOfFile > tag-message.txt
           Release $RELEASE_TAG initiated by $COMMITTER_NAME