diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 042d3a7e42..3447f4e590 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ on:
       ghc_version:
         description: "used to pull binary"
         type: string
-        required: false
+        required: true
         default: "9.6.3"
 #       tag_default_bump:
 #         description: "Auto-bump release version id"
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ jobs:
           VERSION_NEW: ${{ env.VERSION_NEW }}
         run: |
           
-          GHC_VER=$(( inputs.ghc_version ))
+          GHC_VER=${{ inputs.ghc_version }}
 
           UBUNTU_20_TAR=chainweb.false.$GHC_VER.ubuntu-20.04.$SHORT_REVISION.tar.gz
           UBUNTU_22_TAR=chainweb.false.$GHC_VER.ubuntu-22.04.$SHORT_REVISION.tar.gz