diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/version-and-release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/version-and-release.yml
index e6d2e3a..d04bb9d 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/version-and-release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/version-and-release.yml
@@ -164,11 +164,25 @@ jobs:
       - name: Commit version bump
         if: steps.version.outputs.version_changed == 'true'
         run: |
+          set -e  # Exit on any error
+          
+          # First, ensure we have the latest changes
+          echo "Fetching latest changes..."
+          git fetch origin main
+          
+          # Check if we're behind and need to update
+          LOCAL=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
+          REMOTE=$(git rev-parse origin/main)
+          
+          if [ "$LOCAL" != "$REMOTE" ]; then
+            echo "Local is behind remote, pulling changes..."
+            git pull origin main --no-rebase
+          fi
+          
           COMPONENT="${{ steps.version.outputs.component_changed }}"
           
           if [ "$COMPONENT" = "both" ]; then
-            git add backend/package.json backend/package-lock.json
-            git add frontend/package.json frontend/package-lock.json
+            git add backend/package.json backend/package-lock.json frontend/package.json frontend/package-lock.json
             git commit -m "chore: bump version to ${{ steps.version.outputs.new_version }} (backend + frontend)"
           elif [ "$COMPONENT" = "backend" ]; then
             git add backend/package.json backend/package-lock.json
@@ -189,25 +203,40 @@ jobs:
           
           # Push the changes with retry logic
           echo "Pushing version bump..."
-          MAX_RETRIES=3
-          RETRY_COUNT=0
+          PUSH_SUCCESS=false
           
-          while [ $RETRY_COUNT -lt $MAX_RETRIES ]; do
-            if git push origin main; then
-              echo "Successfully pushed version bump"
+          for i in 1 2 3; do
+            echo "Push attempt $i of 3..."
+            
+            # Try to push
+            if git push origin main 2>&1; then
+              echo "Successfully pushed version bump on attempt $i"
+              PUSH_SUCCESS=true
               break
             else
-              RETRY_COUNT=$((RETRY_COUNT + 1))
-              if [ $RETRY_COUNT -lt $MAX_RETRIES ]; then
-                echo "Push failed, retrying in 5 seconds... (attempt $RETRY_COUNT/$MAX_RETRIES)"
+              echo "Push failed on attempt $i"
+              
+              if [ $i -lt 3 ]; then
+                echo "Waiting 5 seconds before retry..."
                 sleep 5
-                git pull --rebase origin main || git pull origin main --no-rebase
-              else
-                echo "Failed to push after $MAX_RETRIES attempts"
-                exit 1
+                
+                echo "Pulling latest changes..."
+                git fetch origin main
+                
+                # Try rebase first, fall back to merge
+                if ! git rebase origin/main; then
+                  echo "Rebase failed, trying merge..."
+                  git rebase --abort 2>/dev/null || true
+                  git pull origin main --no-rebase
+                fi
               fi
             fi
           done
+          
+          if [ "$PUSH_SUCCESS" = "false" ]; then
+            echo "ERROR: Failed to push after 3 attempts"
+            exit 1
+          fi
       
       - name: Create Git tag
         if: steps.version.outputs.version_changed == 'true'