diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
index 631f221..0fce9a8 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
@@ -42,8 +42,9 @@ jobs:
         id: extract_version
         shell: powershell
         run: |
-          $version = python -c "from app_version import APP_VERSION; print(APP_VERSION)"
-          "version=$version" | Out-File -FilePath $env:GITHUB_OUTPUT -Encoding utf8 -Append
+          $version = (python -c "from app_version import APP_VERSION; print(APP_VERSION)").Trim()
+          $utf8NoBom = New-Object System.Text.UTF8Encoding($false)
+          [System.IO.File]::AppendAllText($env:GITHUB_OUTPUT, "version=$version`n", $utf8NoBom)
           Write-Host "Detected version: $version"
 
       - name: Stop if version already released
@@ -54,12 +55,13 @@ jobs:
           git show-ref --tags --quiet --verify "refs/tags/$version"
           $tagExists = ($LASTEXITCODE -eq 0)
           $global:LASTEXITCODE = 0
+          $utf8NoBom = New-Object System.Text.UTF8Encoding($false)
           if ($tagExists) {
             Write-Host "Version $version already released, stopping job."
-            "CONTINUE=false" | Out-File -FilePath $env:GITHUB_ENV -Encoding utf8 -Append
+            [System.IO.File]::AppendAllText($env:GITHUB_ENV, "CONTINUE=false`n", $utf8NoBom)
           } else {
             Write-Host "Version $version not released yet, continuing workflow..."
-            "CONTINUE=true" | Out-File -FilePath $env:GITHUB_ENV -Encoding utf8 -Append
+            [System.IO.File]::AppendAllText($env:GITHUB_ENV, "CONTINUE=true`n", $utf8NoBom)
           }
           exit 0