diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 83df47560..c0376341e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -12,11 +12,42 @@ defaults:
   run:
     shell: bash
 
-jobs: 
+jobs:
+  release-check-precondition:
+    name: Validate pushed commit to release/hotfix branch or pushed tag
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/hotfix/') || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/release/')
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      - id: validate-pom-version
+        name: Validate POM version
+        run: |
+          if [[ $GITHUB_REF =~ refs/heads/(hotfix|release)/[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+.* ]]; then
+            SEM_VER_STR=${GITHUB_REF##*/}
+          elif [[ $GITHUB_REF =~ refs/tags/[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+.* ]]; then
+            SEM_VER_STR=${GITHUB_REF##*/}
+          else
+            echo "Failed to parse version"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          if [[ ${SEM_VER_STR} == `mvn help:evaluate -Dexpression=project.version -q -DforceStdout` ]]; then
+            echo "::set-output name=semVerStr::${SEM_VER_STR}"
+          else
+            echo "Version not set in POM"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+      - name: Validate release in org.cryptomator.Cryptomator.metainfo.xml file
+        run: |
+          if ! grep -q "<release date=\".*\" version=\"${{ steps.validate-pom-version.outputs.semVerStr }}\"/>" dist/linux/common/org.cryptomator.Cryptomator.metainfo.xml; then
+            echo "Release not set in dist/linux/common/org.cryptomator.Cryptomator.metainfo.xml"
+            exit 1
+          fi
   test:
     name: Compile and Test
+    needs: release-check-precondition
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: "!contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[ci skip]') && !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[skip ci]')"
+    if: "always() && (needs.release-check-precondition.result=='success' || needs.release-check-precondition.result=='skipped') && !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[ci skip]') && !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[skip ci]')"
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v2
       - uses: actions/setup-java@v2
@@ -43,29 +74,6 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }} # Needed to get PR information, if any
           SONAR_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SONAR_TOKEN }}
-      - name: Validate POM version
-        if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/hotfix/') || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/release/')
-        run: |
-          if [[ $GITHUB_REF =~ refs/heads/(hotfix|release)/[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+.* ]]; then
-            SEM_VER_STR=${GITHUB_REF##*/}
-          elif [[ $GITHUB_REF =~ refs/tags/[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+.* ]]; then
-            SEM_VER_STR=${GITHUB_REF##*/}
-          else
-            echo "Failed to parse version"
-            exit 1
-          fi
-
-          if ![[ SEM_VER_STR = `mvn help:evaluate -Dexpression=project.version -q -DforceStdout` ]]; then
-            echo "Version not set in POM"
-            exit 1
-          fi
-      - name: Validate release in org.cryptomator.Cryptomator.metainfo.xml file
-        if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/hotfix/') || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/release/')
-        run: |
-          if ![[ grep "<release date=\".*\" version=\"${SEM_VER_STR}\"/>" dist/linux/common/org.cryptomator.Cryptomator.metainfo.xml ]]; then
-            echo "Release not set in dist/linux/common/org.cryptomator.Cryptomator.metainfo.xml"
-            exit 1
-          fi
       - name: Sign source tarball with key 615D449FE6E6A235
         if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
         run: |