diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/build-release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/build-release.yml
index 96fbbf3..13921cd 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/build-release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/build-release.yml
@@ -137,7 +137,8 @@ jobs:
           export CFLAGS="-w"
           export CXXFLAGS="-w"
 
-          # Configure — minimal client-only build
+          # Clean any stale cmake cache and configure fresh
+          rm -rf build
           cmake -B build -G Ninja \
             -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=/tmp/mingw-toolchain.cmake \
             -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \