diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index e993271..db443e5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -3,17 +3,46 @@ name: Release
 on:
   push:
     tags:
-      - '*.*.*'
+      - 'v*.*.*'
 
 jobs:
+  wait-for-tests:
+    name: Wait for Tests
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Wait for Tests workflow to pass
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          echo "Waiting for Tests workflow on commit ${{ github.sha }}..."
+          for i in $(seq 1 60); do
+            result=$(gh api repos/${{ github.repository }}/commits/${{ github.sha }}/check-runs \
+              --jq '.check_runs[] | select(.name | test("Ubuntu|MacOS|Windows")) | .conclusion' 2>/dev/null || true)
+            if echo "$result" | grep -q "failure"; then
+              echo "Tests failed — aborting release."
+              exit 1
+            fi
+            total=$(echo "$result" | wc -l | tr -d ' ')
+            passed=$(echo "$result" | grep -c "success" || true)
+            if [ "$total" -gt 0 ] && [ "$total" -eq "$passed" ]; then
+              echo "All $total test jobs passed."
+              exit 0
+            fi
+            echo "Attempt $i: $passed/$total jobs passed so far, waiting 30s..."
+            sleep 30
+          done
+          echo "Timed out waiting for Tests workflow."
+          exit 1
+
   release:
     name: Release
+    needs: wait-for-tests
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Set up Python 3.9
+      - name: Set up Python 3.12
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: "3.12"
@@ -42,8 +71,8 @@ jobs:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           draft: false
           prerelease: steps.check-version.outputs.prerelease == 'true'
-        
+
       - name: Publish to PyPI
         env:
           POETRY_PYPI_TOKEN_PYPI: ${{ secrets.PYPI_TOKEN }}
-        run: poetry publish
\ No newline at end of file
+        run: poetry publish
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 9fcb947..d2b9390 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         os: [Ubuntu, MacOS, Windows]
-        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
+        python-version: ["3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
       fail-fast: false
     defaults:
       run:
@@ -34,7 +34,11 @@ jobs:
         
       - name: Bootstrap poetry
         run: |
-          curl -sSL https://install.python-poetry.org | python - -y
+          if [ "${{ matrix.python-version }}" = "3.9" ]; then
+            curl -sSL https://install.python-poetry.org | python - -y --version 1.8.5
+          else
+            curl -sSL https://install.python-poetry.org | python - -y
+          fi
             
       - name: Update PATH
         if: ${{ matrix.os != 'Windows' }}
@@ -60,7 +64,12 @@ jobs:
           timeout 10s poetry run pip --version || rm -rf .venv
 
       - name: Check lock file
-        run: poetry lock --check
+        run: |
+          if [ "${{ matrix.python-version }}" = "3.9" ]; then
+            poetry lock --check
+          else
+            poetry check --lock
+          fi
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: poetry install --without examples
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index dcd2a65..5213045 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 # Change Log
 
-## [0.12.2] - 2025-02-20
+## [0.12.3] - 2025-02-20
 
 - Fixed `__version__` in `lato/__init__.py` to match release version
 - Removed EOL `pypy-3.8` from CI test matrix
-- Dropped Python 3.9 from CI (Poetry 2.x requires Python 3.10+)
-- Updated release workflow to use Python 3.12
+- Fixed CI compatibility with Poetry 2.x (`poetry check --lock`)
+- Pin Poetry 1.8.5 for Python 3.9 CI jobs
+- Gate release workflow on Tests passing
+- Updated release workflow to Python 3.12
 
 ## [0.12.0] - 2025-01-02
 
diff --git a/lato/__init__.py b/lato/__init__.py
index 0f1f18b..a6cca47 100644
--- a/lato/__init__.py
+++ b/lato/__init__.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from .message import Command, Event, Query
 from .transaction_context import TransactionContext
 
-__version__ = "0.12.2"
+__version__ = "0.12.3"
 __all__ = [
     "Application",
     "ApplicationModule",
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index bd6260e..accea5c 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "lato"
-version = "0.12.2"
+version = "0.12.3"
 description = "Lato is a Python microframework designed for building modular monoliths and loosely coupled applications."
 authors = ["Przemysław Górecki <przemyslaw.gorecki@gmail.com>"]
 readme = "README.md"