diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
index 4ca2266..827265c 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
@@ -160,6 +160,13 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build and push image
         id: build-and-push
         run: |
+          # Ensure Docker client API version is not pinned too low
+          if [ -n "${DOCKER_API_VERSION}" ]; then
+            echo "Overriding DOCKER_API_VERSION=${DOCKER_API_VERSION}"
+          fi
+          export DOCKER_API_VERSION=1.53
+          echo "Using DOCKER_API_VERSION=$DOCKER_API_VERSION"
+
           echo "Building image with docker build..."
           echo "Tags: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.tags }}"