diff --git a/.github/workflows/rust-release.yml b/.github/workflows/rust-release.yml
index 5a6da68b7..c5b45071b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rust-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/rust-release.yml
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: codex-rs
     env:
       CODEX_BWRAP_ENABLE_FFI: ${{ contains(matrix.target, 'unknown-linux') && '1' || '0' }}
+      CARGO_PROFILE_RELEASE_LTO: ${{ contains(github.ref_name, '-alpha') && 'thin' || 'fat' }}
 
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
diff --git a/.github/workflows/shell-tool-mcp.yml b/.github/workflows/shell-tool-mcp.yml
index 6285754fb..983a5b151 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/shell-tool-mcp.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/shell-tool-mcp.yml
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ jobs:
     needs: metadata
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.runner }}
     timeout-minutes: 30
+    env:
+      CARGO_PROFILE_RELEASE_LTO: ${{ contains(needs.metadata.outputs.version, '-alpha') && 'thin' || 'fat' }}
     defaults:
       run:
         working-directory: codex-rs