diff --git a/.github/workflows/create_version_tag.yml b/.github/workflows/create_version_tag.yml
index acee1ebbd8..70f6ffdbef 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create_version_tag.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create_version_tag.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ on:
 jobs:
     monthly_release:
         runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+        outputs:
+            version_name: ${{ steps.set_version_name.outputs.version_name }}
         steps:
             #checkout main branch
             - name: Checkout code
@@ -63,15 +65,20 @@ jobs:
                   fi
             # Create version name accessible in the following steps
             - name: Set version name
+              id: set_version_name
               run: |
-                echo "VERSION_NAME=v${{ env.MAJOR }}.${{ env.MINOR }}.${{ env.PATCH }}-$(date +'%Y.%m.%d')" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+                # Use format vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH-YY.MM e.g., v1.2.3-24.06 for June 2024
+                VERSION_NAME="v${{ env.MAJOR }}.${{ env.MINOR }}.${{ env.PATCH }}-$(date +'%y.%m')"
+                echo "VERSION_NAME=$VERSION_NAME" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+                echo "version_name=$VERSION_NAME" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
                 echo "VERSION_NAME=$VERSION_NAME"
-            # Create a new version tag
-            - name: Create version tag
-              run: |
-                  git config user.email "t8ddy.bot@gmail.com"
-                  git config user.name "t8ddy"
-                  # configure remote to use the secret token for pushing
-                  git remote set-url origin https://x-access-token:${{ secrets.T8DDY_TOKEN }}@github.com/${{ github.repository }}
-                  git tag "${{ env.VERSION_NAME }}"
-                  git push origin --tags
\ No newline at end of file
+
+    t8code_tarball:
+        uses: ./.github/workflows/test_tarball.yml
+        needs: monthly_release
+        secrets: inherit
+        with:
+            TEST_LEVEL: 'T8_TEST_LEVEL_BASIC'
+            RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ needs.monthly_release.outputs.version_name }}
+            UPLOAD_TO_RELEASE: true
+
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_tarball.yml b/.github/workflows/test_tarball.yml
index 2c465a9cb4..fd2782cec0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_tarball.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_tarball.yml
@@ -37,10 +37,18 @@ on:
         type: string
         description: 'Test level used for configuring (T8_TEST_LEVEL_FULL, T8_TEST_LEVEL_MEDIUM, or T8_TEST_LEVEL_BASIC)'
         default: 'T8_TEST_LEVEL_FULL'
+      RELEASE_VERSION:
+        required: false
+        type: string
+        description: 'Create a release with this version (e.g., v1.2.3-24.06) and upload the tarball to it'
+      UPLOAD_TO_RELEASE:
+        required: false
+        type: boolean
+        description: 'Whether to upload the tarball to the release'
+        default: false
 
 jobs:
   build_tarball:
-
     if: (github.event_name == 'schedule' && github.repository == 'DLR-AMR/t8code') || (github.event_name != 'schedule')
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: dlramr/t8code-ubuntu:t8-dependencies
@@ -139,5 +147,21 @@ jobs:
       with:
         name: build_tar.log
         path: build_tar/test-suite.log
+    - name: retrieve name of tarball
+      run: |
+        TAR_NAME=$(basename tarballs/*.tar.gz)
+        echo "TAR_NAME=$TAR_NAME" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+    - name: upload as release asset
+      if: ${{ inputs.UPLOAD_TO_RELEASE == true }}
+      uses: ncipollo/release-action@v1
+      with:
+        name: ${{ inputs.RELEASE_VERSION }}
+        commit: main
+        tag: ${{ inputs.RELEASE_VERSION }}
+        artifacts: "tarballs/*.tar.gz"
+        body: "Automated release of t8code version ${{ inputs.RELEASE_VERSION }} created from tarball tested in CI."
+        generate_release_notes: true
+        token: ${{ secrets.T8DDY_TOKEN }}
+