diff --git a/.github/workflows/pythonpublish.yaml b/.github/workflows/pythonpublish.yaml
index 5b47dae..27350dc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pythonpublish.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pythonpublish.yaml
@@ -15,18 +15,11 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         name: Install Python
         with:
-          python-version: 3.9
+          python-version: '3.x'
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           python -m pip install setuptools setuptools-scm[toml] wheel twine
-          python -m pip install .
-      - name: Check python version
-        run: |
-          python --version
-      - name: Check current package version
-        run: |
-          python -c "import pangeo_forge_esgf; print(pangeo_forge_esgf.__version__)"
       - name: Build and publish
         env:
           TWINE_USERNAME: "__token__"