diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-please.yml b/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
index 0239df4..675d808 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,20 @@ name: Release
 on:
   push:
     branches: [main]
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      force_release:
+        description: 'Force release build (use existing tag)'
+        required: false
+        default: 'false'
+        type: choice
+        options:
+          - 'false'
+          - 'true'
+      release_tag:
+        description: 'Tag to release (e.g., cachekit-v0.1.0)'
+        required: false
+        type: string
 
 permissions:
   contents: write
@@ -38,31 +52,51 @@ jobs:
   build-wheels:
     name: Build wheels (${{ matrix.target }})
     needs: release-please
-    if: needs.release-please.outputs.release_created == 'true'
+    # Run if: release-please created a release OR manual dispatch with force_release
+    if: needs.release-please.outputs.release_created == 'true' || github.event.inputs.force_release == 'true'
     strategy:
       matrix:
         include:
+          # Native builds - maturin auto-discovers Python interpreters
           - os: ubuntu-latest
             target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
-          - os: ubuntu-latest
-            target: aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu
           - os: macos-latest
             target: x86_64-apple-darwin
           - os: macos-latest
             target: aarch64-apple-darwin
           - os: windows-latest
             target: x86_64-pc-windows-msvc
+          # Cross-compilation - must specify Python versions explicitly
+          # (cross containers don't have discoverable Python interpreters)
+          - os: ubuntu-latest
+            target: aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu
+            interpreter: -i python3.9 -i python3.10 -i python3.11 -i python3.12 -i python3.13
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
-          ref: ${{ needs.release-please.outputs.tag_name }}
+          # Use release-please tag or manual input tag
+          ref: ${{ needs.release-please.outputs.tag_name || github.event.inputs.release_tag }}
+
+      # Python setup required for native builds (macOS/Windows) to discover interpreters
+      # Linux uses Docker containers which have Python pre-installed
+      - name: Set up Python
+        if: matrix.os != 'ubuntu-latest'
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: |
+            3.9
+            3.10
+            3.11
+            3.12
+            3.13
 
       - uses: PyO3/maturin-action@v1
         with:
           target: ${{ matrix.target }}
-          args: --release --out dist
+          args: --release --out dist ${{ matrix.interpreter }}
           manylinux: auto
+          rust-toolchain: stable
 
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
@@ -72,17 +106,18 @@ jobs:
   build-sdist:
     name: Build source distribution
     needs: release-please
-    if: needs.release-please.outputs.release_created == 'true'
+    if: needs.release-please.outputs.release_created == 'true' || github.event.inputs.force_release == 'true'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
-          ref: ${{ needs.release-please.outputs.tag_name }}
+          ref: ${{ needs.release-please.outputs.tag_name || github.event.inputs.release_tag }}
 
       - uses: PyO3/maturin-action@v1
         with:
           command: sdist
           args: --out dist
+          rust-toolchain: stable
 
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with: