diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yml
index a1e8186..4f21c5f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ on:
         type: string
       node-version:
         description: "Node.js version to use"
-        default: "20"
+        default: "24"
         type: string
       registry:
         description: "NPM registry URL"
@@ -121,11 +121,11 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           if [ -n "${{ secrets.npm-token }}" ]; then
             echo "npm-token secret is set not using OIDC"
-          elif [ -n "$(npx semver -r ">=11.5.1" "$(npm -v)")" ]; then
+          elif [ -n "$(npx semver@7.8.5 -r ">=11.5.1" "$(npm -v)")" ]; then
             echo "OIDC trusted publishing supported by current npm version"
           else
-            echo "OIDC trusted publishing requires npm >= 11.5.1, updating npm"
-            npm install -g npm@11
+            echo "::error::OIDC trusted publishing requires npm >= 11.5.1, shipped with Node.js >= 24.5.0 (current: npm $(npm -v), Node.js $(node -v)). Use a compatible \`node-version\` input, or provide the \`npm-token\` secret."
+            exit 1
           fi
 
       - name: Install dependencies
diff --git a/publish-npm/README.md b/publish-npm/README.md
index 07c5c52..4c0f7d4 100644
--- a/publish-npm/README.md
+++ b/publish-npm/README.md
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ This reusable GitHub Actions workflow automates the process of publishing an NPM
 | **Input** | **Description** | **Required** | **Default** |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
 | **scope** | NPM package scope (e.g., `@iexec`). | No | `@iexec` |
-| **node-version** | Node.js version to use. | No | `20` |
+| **node-version** | Node.js version to use. | No | `24` |
 | **registry** | NPM registry URL. | No | `https://registry.npmjs.org` |
 | **access** | Package access (public or restricted). | No | `public` |
 | **provenance** | Enable npm provenance. | No | `true` |
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ This reusable GitHub Actions workflow automates the process of publishing an NPM
 
 ### With Trusted Publishers (preferred)
 
-> ⚠️ this method uses npm >= 11.5.1 ensure your project supports a compatible version of npm if not please use the method with npm token.
+> ⚠️ this method requires npm >= 11.5.1, shipped with Node.js >= 24.5.0. Use a compatible `node-version`, or provide the `npm-token` secret.
 
 1. **Call the Reusable Workflow**
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ This reusable GitHub Actions workflow automates the process of publishing an NPM
      publish:
        uses: iExecBlockchainComputing/github-actions-workflows/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yml@main
        with:
-         node-version: "22"
+         node-version: "24"
          build-command: "npm run build:prod"
          run-tests: true
          test-command: "npm run test:ci"
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ This reusable GitHub Actions workflow automates the process of publishing an NPM
      publish:
        uses: iExecBlockchainComputing/github-actions-workflows/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yml@main
        with:
-         node-version: "22"
+         node-version: "24"
          build-command: "npm run build:prod"
          run-tests: true
          test-command: "npm run test:ci"
diff --git a/publish-npm/workflow-sha256 b/publish-npm/workflow-sha256
index c9941ca..446583c 100644
--- a/publish-npm/workflow-sha256
+++ b/publish-npm/workflow-sha256
@@ -1 +1 @@
-a936ca8dedd03c393e20d2716282cf3bc72bdc3bcfceae0d083686f938e6e513
+243c60661de8b313ccfca192af41b147c3ba94b36318ac3a5dcd901c6e9fa919