diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 7ec5a70..37035bf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -125,6 +125,14 @@ jobs:
             fi
           done
 
+          echo "Diagnosing authentication configuration..."
+          echo "Environment variables in container:"
+          docker exec pulse-test-server env | grep PULSE_AUTH || echo "No PULSE_AUTH variables found"
+          echo "Security status endpoint:"
+          curl -s http://localhost:7655/api/security/status | jq . || echo "Failed to query security status"
+          echo "Container startup logs (looking for auth messages):"
+          docker logs pulse-test-server 2>&1 | grep -i "auth\|overriding\|hashed" || echo "No auth-related messages in logs"
+
           echo "Running integration tests..."
           npx playwright test tests/01-happy-path.spec.ts tests/02-bad-checksums.spec.ts --reporter=list
           docker-compose -f docker-compose.test.yml down -v