diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-docs.yml b/.github/workflows/build-docs.yml
index c8c4e28905..7bb7080955 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-docs.yml
@@ -212,7 +212,9 @@ jobs:
           pip install *.whl
           popd
 
-          pip install cuda_python*.whl
+          # Subpackages are already installed from CI artifacts above.
+          # --no-deps avoids re-resolving cuda-core from PyPI during tag releases.
+          pip install --no-deps cuda_python*.whl
 
       # This step sets the PR_NUMBER/BUILD_LATEST/BUILD_PREVIEW env vars.
       - name: Get PR number
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-wheel-linux.yml b/.github/workflows/test-wheel-linux.yml
index 16af4b15d3..ae1e2e5daf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-wheel-linux.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-wheel-linux.yml
@@ -372,10 +372,12 @@ jobs:
       - name: Ensure cuda-python installable
         if: ${{ inputs.test-mode == 'standard' && env.BINDINGS_SOURCE == 'main' }}
         run: |
+          # Subpackages are already installed from CI artifacts; --no-deps keeps
+          # tag-release cuda-core wheels from being replaced by PyPI pins.
           if [[ "${{ matrix.LOCAL_CTK }}" == 1 ]]; then
-            pip install --only-binary=:all: cuda_python*.whl
+            pip install --only-binary=:all: --no-deps cuda_python*.whl
           else
-            pip install --only-binary=:all: $(ls cuda_python*.whl)[all]
+            pip install --only-binary=:all: --no-deps $(ls cuda_python*.whl)[all]
           fi
 
       - name: Install cuda.pathfinder extra wheels for testing
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-wheel-windows.yml b/.github/workflows/test-wheel-windows.yml
index 0d9dc78d5d..46937cbd12 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-wheel-windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-wheel-windows.yml
@@ -341,10 +341,12 @@ jobs:
       - name: Ensure cuda-python installable
         if: ${{ inputs.test-mode == 'standard' && env.BINDINGS_SOURCE == 'main' }}
         run: |
+          # Subpackages are already installed from CI artifacts; --no-deps keeps
+          # tag-release cuda-core wheels from being replaced by PyPI pins.
           if ('${{ matrix.LOCAL_CTK }}' -eq '1') {
-            pip install --only-binary=:all: (Get-ChildItem -Filter cuda_python*.whl).FullName
+            pip install --only-binary=:all: --no-deps (Get-ChildItem -Filter cuda_python*.whl).FullName
           } else {
-            pip install --only-binary=:all: "$((Get-ChildItem -Filter cuda_python*.whl).FullName)[all]"
+            pip install --only-binary=:all: --no-deps "$((Get-ChildItem -Filter cuda_python*.whl).FullName)[all]"
           }
 
       - name: Install cuda.pathfinder extra wheels for testing