diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index dcef6fb..0bcc90c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ on:
       publish_crates:
         description: Publish to crates.io
         type: boolean
-        default: false
+        default: true
 
 env:
   FORCE_JAVASCRIPT_ACTIONS_TO_NODE24: true
@@ -309,27 +309,25 @@ jobs:
               artifacts/checksums.txt
           fi
 
-  publish:
-    name: Publish
+  publish-npm:
+    name: Publish npm
     needs: [changes, update-manifests, release]
-    if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' && needs.changes.outputs.rust == 'true'
+    if: >-
+      github.event_name != 'pull_request'
+      && needs.changes.outputs.rust == 'true'
+      && (inputs.publish_npm == true || inputs.publish_npm == '')
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           ref: ${{ needs.changes.outputs.tag }}
 
-      - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
-
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: 22
           registry-url: https://registry.npmjs.org
 
-      - name: Install system dependencies
-        run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y libx11-dev libxtst-dev
-
-      - name: Check current published state
+      - name: Check if already published
         id: published
         run: |
           VERSION="${{ needs.changes.outputs.version }}"
@@ -338,13 +336,9 @@ jobs:
           else
             echo "npm=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           fi
-          if curl -fsSL "https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/deskctl/${VERSION}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-            echo "crates=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-          else
-            echo "crates=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-          fi
 
       - name: Validate npm package
+        if: steps.published.outputs.npm != 'true'
         run: node npm/deskctl/scripts/validate-package.js
 
       - name: Publish npm
@@ -353,8 +347,36 @@ jobs:
           NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
         run: npm publish ./npm/deskctl --access public
 
+  publish-crates:
+    name: Publish crates.io
+    needs: [changes, update-manifests, release]
+    if: >-
+      github.event_name != 'pull_request'
+      && needs.changes.outputs.rust == 'true'
+      && (inputs.publish_crates == true || inputs.publish_crates == '')
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ needs.changes.outputs.tag }}
+
+      - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
+
+      - name: Install system dependencies
+        run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y libx11-dev libxtst-dev
+
+      - name: Check if already published
+        id: published
+        run: |
+          VERSION="${{ needs.changes.outputs.version }}"
+          if curl -fsSL "https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/deskctl/${VERSION}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            echo "crates=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          else
+            echo "crates=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          fi
+
       - name: Publish crates.io
-        if: inputs.publish_crates && steps.published.outputs.crates != 'true'
+        if: steps.published.outputs.crates != 'true'
         env:
           CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
         run: cargo publish --locked
diff --git a/docs/releasing.md b/docs/releasing.md
index 8f39d3f..849d661 100644
--- a/docs/releasing.md
+++ b/docs/releasing.md
@@ -59,12 +59,12 @@ The repository release workflow:
 - publishes the canonical GitHub Release asset
 - uploads `checksums.txt`
 
-The registry publish workflow:
+The registry publish jobs (npm and crates.io run in parallel):
 
-- targets an existing release tag
-- checks that Cargo, npm, and the requested tag all agree on version
-- checks whether that version is already published on npm and crates.io
-- only publishes the channels explicitly requested
+- target an existing release tag
+- check whether that version is already published on the respective registry
+- skip already-published versions
+- both default to enabled; can be toggled via workflow_dispatch inputs
 
 ## Rerun Safety
 
diff --git a/site/src/pages/index.astro b/site/src/pages/index.astro
index b914e16..8dfde01 100644
--- a/site/src/pages/index.astro
+++ b/site/src/pages/index.astro
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ import DocLayout from "../layouts/DocLayout.astro";
     <li>
       <a href="https://github.com/harivansh-afk/deskctl">GitHub</a>
     </li>
+    <li>
+      <a href="www.crates.io">crates.io</a>
+    </li>
     <li>
       <a href="https://www.npmjs.com/package/deskctl">npm</a>
     </li>