diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index baf11d3a..995eb0b9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -541,16 +541,30 @@ jobs:
             echo "::warning title=Cross-repo dispatch skipped::HOMEBREW_TAP_TOKEN secret is not configured in nself-org/cli — homebrew tap and admin Docker rebuild were NOT triggered for ${{ github.ref_name }}. Formula correctness is enforced by verify-homebrew-lockstep. Add HOMEBREW_TAP_TOKEN to enable automatic post-release dispatch."
             exit 0
           fi
-          # Probe the token against the target repo with a lightweight authenticated
-          # GET.  A 200 means the token is valid and has at least read access.
-          # 401 or 403 means the token is present but invalid/expired/lacks permission.
-          # We use curl -o /dev/null so no repo data is printed; only the HTTP status
-          # matters.  The token is passed via step env: (valid context) — never in if:.
-          HTTP_STATUS=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' \
-            -H "Authorization: Bearer ${TAP_TOKEN}" \
-            -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
-            -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
-            https://api.github.com/repos/nself-org/homebrew-nself)
+          # Probe the token against EVERY repo it dispatches to, with a lightweight
+          # authenticated GET.  A 200 means the token is valid and has at least read
+          # access.  401 or 403 means the token is present but invalid/expired/lacks
+          # permission.  We use curl -o /dev/null so no repo data is printed; only the
+          # HTTP status matters.  The token is passed via step env: (valid context) —
+          # never in if:.
+          #
+          # Both dispatch steps below use this one token but target DIFFERENT repos.
+          # Probing only homebrew-nself meant a PAT scoped to the tap but not to admin
+          # passed the gate, fired the tap dispatch, and then failed on the admin
+          # dispatch after the release had already published.  Whoever mints the PAT
+          # must give it repo scope on BOTH repos, and this probe now proves it.
+          HTTP_STATUS=200
+          for REPO in nself-org/homebrew-nself nself-org/admin; do
+            STATUS=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' \
+              -H "Authorization: Bearer ${TAP_TOKEN}" \
+              -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
+              -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
+              "https://api.github.com/repos/${REPO}")
+            echo "probe ${REPO}: HTTP ${STATUS}"
+            if [ "${STATUS}" != "200" ]; then
+              HTTP_STATUS="${STATUS} on ${REPO}"
+            fi
+          done
           if [ "${HTTP_STATUS}" = "200" ]; then
             echo "tap_token_ok=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           else