diff --git a/example/Cargo.toml b/example/Cargo.toml
index 7a3d47e..b5ad340 100644
--- a/example/Cargo.toml
+++ b/example/Cargo.toml
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 name = "example"
 version = "0.1.0"
 edition = "2021"
-
-# See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
+publish = false
 
 [dependencies]
 spacedb = {version = "*", path = ".." }
diff --git a/release-plz.toml b/release-plz.toml
index 905db41..f1ce3a0 100644
--- a/release-plz.toml
+++ b/release-plz.toml
@@ -51,4 +51,10 @@ publish = true
 # Create a GitHub release alongside the tag.
 git_release_enable = true
 # Use the commit subject as the GitHub release title.
-git_tag_name = "v{{ version }}"
\ No newline at end of file
+git_tag_name = "v{{ version }}"
+
+# The example crate is a workspace member only so it can depend on the
+# in-tree spacedb; it should never be versioned or published.
+[[package]]
+name = "example"
+release = false
\ No newline at end of file