diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-pinback.yml b/.github/workflows/release-pinback.yml
index 5fdac81..188bd03 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-pinback.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-pinback.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Extract version
         id: version
         run: |
-          VERSION="v$(cat .release-please-manifest.json | jq -r '.["."']')"
+          VERSION="v$(jq -r '."."' .release-please-manifest.json)"
           echo "VERSION=${VERSION}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       - name: Restore @main refs