diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 034f786..b7f23bc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -893,6 +893,10 @@ jobs:
         if: needs.resolve-release.outputs.cache_warm != 'true'
         timeout-minutes: 10
         uses: shivammathur/setup-php@f3e473d116dcccaddc5834248c87452386958240  # v2
+        env:
+          # The pinned macOS watchdog can leave FIFO readers blocked after cleanup.
+          # Keep the whole setup bounded by the step timeout above.
+          SETUP_PHP_BREW_WATCHDOG: ${{ runner.os == 'macOS' && 'false' || 'true' }}
         with:
           php-version: '8.4'
           extensions: pcntl, posix