diff --git a/.github/workflows/Build.yml b/.github/workflows/Build.yml
index e512b28..85c17d9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/Build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/Build.yml
@@ -70,8 +70,9 @@ jobs:
         background: true
 
       # Checkout is required before using local composite actions from this repository.
+      # Runs synchronously (not background) since the local setup-ci action below
+      # reads action.yml from the checked-out working tree and must not start until this completes.
       - name: Checkout Files from Repo
-        background: true
         uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       # Prepare runner environment shared across CI workflows.
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index d128e9b..1793e0d 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
     "name": "@software-hardware-integration-lab/log-engine",
-    "version": "0.0.3",
+    "version": "0.0.3-alpha1",
     "lockfileVersion": 3,
     "requires": true,
     "packages": {
         "": {
             "name": "@software-hardware-integration-lab/log-engine",
-            "version": "0.0.3",
+            "version": "0.0.3-alpha1",
             "hasInstallScript": true,
             "dependencies": {
                 "typia": "~12.1.1"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 88d713d..569e616 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-    "version": "0.0.3",
+    "version": "0.0.3-alpha1",
     "name": "@software-hardware-integration-lab/log-engine",
     "description": "Logging engine with ability to add plugins for any destination",
     "author": "Michael Howard",