diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/publish.yml b/.gitea/workflows/publish.yml
index 5c11d44..07ab7ca 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -36,7 +36,16 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build Wheel and Source Distribution
         run: python -m build .
-
+      - name: Verify Secret Presence
+        env:
+          MY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PYPI_API_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          if [ -z "$MY_TOKEN" ]; then
+            echo "❌ ERROR: The Gitea runner is receiving an empty string for PYPI_API_TOKEN!"
+            exit 1
+          else
+            echo "✅ SUCCESS: Secret is accessible to this repository."
+          fi
       - name: Publish Package to PyPI
         env:
           TWINE_USERNAME: __token__