diff --git a/.github/scripts/update-version-file.sh b/.github/scripts/update-version-file.sh
index 726afa58f..6155338ff 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/update-version-file.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/update-version-file.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ BIN="syft"
 DISTDIR=$1
 VERSION=$2
 
-if [[ $VERSION == *-* ]] ; then
+# the source of truth as to whether we want to notify users of an update is if the release just created is NOT
+# flagged as a pre-release on github
+if [[ "$(curl -SsL https://api.github.com/repos/anchore/${BIN}/releases/tags/${VERSION} | jq .prerelease)" == "true" ]] ; then
    echo "skipping publishing a version file (this is a pre-release: ${VERSION})"
    exit 0
 fi
diff --git a/.github/workflows/acceptance-test.yaml b/.github/workflows/acceptance-test.yaml
index 344877b5a..37a9a7caf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/acceptance-test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/acceptance-test.yaml
@@ -17,12 +17,6 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
 
-      # TODO: remove me after release
-      - name: Configure git for private modules
-        env:
-          TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ANCHORE_GIT_READ_TOKEN }}
-        run: git config --global url."https://anchore:${TOKEN}@github.com".insteadOf "https://github.com"
-
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v2
         with:
           go-version: ${{ env.GO_VERSION }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index d38e6aa81..9383b40b1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -75,12 +75,6 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
 
-      # TODO: remove me after release
-      - name: Configure git for private modules
-        env:
-          TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ANCHORE_GIT_READ_TOKEN }}
-        run: git config --global url."https://anchore:${TOKEN}@github.com".insteadOf "https://github.com"
-
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v2
         with:
           go-version: ${{ env.GO_VERSION }}
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e1828e10e..88b29e280 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ help:
 
 .PHONY: ci-bootstrap
 ci-bootstrap: bootstrap
-	sudo apt install -y bc
+	sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y bc jq
 
 .PHONY: bootstrap
 bootstrap: ## Download and install all go dependencies (+ prep tooling in the ./tmp dir)