diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 27065f6..3870f7c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,23 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check out repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
+      - name: Set up pnpm
+        uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
+        with:
+          version: 10.13.1
+
+      - name: Set up Node
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v6
+        with:
+          node-version: '22'
+          cache: pnpm
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
+
+      - name: Run package verification
+        run: pnpm run release:check
+
       - name: Validate required top-level files
         shell: bash
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/docs.yml b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
index 311edb2..26558c6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set up pnpm
         uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
         with:
-          version: 9
+          version: 10.13.1
 
       - name: Set up Node
         uses: actions/setup-node@v6
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml b/.github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml
index c0e211d..9f86604 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ jobs:
           node-version: 22
       - uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
         with:
-          version: 10
+          version: 10.13.1
           run_install: false
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 1e883a5..a3305f0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ jobs:
           registry-url: https://registry.npmjs.org
       - uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
         with:
-          version: 10
+          version: 10.13.1
           run_install: false
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index d4fbd08..0e9831b 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -71,6 +71,15 @@ Keep the review pack factual. It should say what changed, how it was verified, w
 
 Every contribution needs verification appropriate to the change.
 
+Use Node.js 22 and the exact pnpm version declared by `packageManager` in
+`package.json`. Enable Corepack, then install dependencies non-interactively:
+
+```sh
+corepack enable
+CI=true corepack pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
+pnpm run release:check
+```
+
 Use the smallest relevant verification first:
 
 - Documentation-only changes: review the rendered Markdown or inspect the diff.
diff --git a/docs/release-process.md b/docs/release-process.md
index dd5d730..436f453 100644
--- a/docs/release-process.md
+++ b/docs/release-process.md
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ uses generated release notes and maintainers have reviewed them.
 
 Choose the smallest verification that gives confidence for the release:
 
+- Use Node.js 22 and the exact pnpm version in `package.json#packageManager`;
+  Corepack and CI workflows use this pin rather than a floating pnpm major.
+- Run `CI=true corepack pnpm install --frozen-lockfile` from a clean checkout.
+- Run `pnpm run release:check`, which also verifies the pnpm pin, required
+  esbuild build-script policy, and workflow version alignment.
 - Documentation-only release: markdown review, link check if available, and
   spell or formatting checks when configured.
 - Library or package release: targeted tests, typecheck, lint, build, and
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2dbb7dc..72a0f38 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   "name": "@rogerchappel/stackforge",
   "version": "0.1.0",
   "private": true,
+  "packageManager": "pnpm@10.13.1",
   "description": "Agent-friendly software project scaffolding CLI for apps, APIs, CLIs, and OSS packages.",
   "type": "module",
   "bin": {
@@ -12,11 +13,12 @@
     "build": "tsc",
     "dev": "tsx src/index.ts",
     "check": "tsc --noEmit",
+    "package-manager:check": "node scripts/check-package-manager.mjs",
     "docs:check": "node scripts/check-docs.mjs",
     "start": "node dist/index.js",
     "check:templates": "pnpm build && node scripts/check-template-registry.mjs",
     "smoke:init": "bash scripts/smoke-init.sh",
-    "release:check": "pnpm run docs:check && pnpm run build && pnpm test && pnpm run smoke && pnpm run package:smoke",
+    "release:check": "pnpm run package-manager:check && pnpm run docs:check && pnpm run build && pnpm test && pnpm run smoke && pnpm run package:smoke",
     "test": "pnpm run build && node scripts/check-template-registry.mjs",
     "smoke": "pnpm run smoke:init",
     "package:smoke": "pnpm run build && node scripts/package-smoke.mjs"
@@ -32,6 +34,11 @@
   "engines": {
     "node": ">=20"
   },
+  "pnpm": {
+    "onlyBuiltDependencies": [
+      "esbuild"
+    ]
+  },
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
     "url": "git+https://github.com/rogerchappel/stackforge.git"
diff --git a/scripts/check-package-manager.mjs b/scripts/check-package-manager.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f67a2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/check-package-manager.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { readFileSync, readdirSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { join } from 'node:path';
+
+const root = process.cwd();
+const packageJson = JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(root, 'package.json'), 'utf8'));
+const match = /^pnpm@(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)$/.exec(packageJson.packageManager ?? '');
+
+if (!match) {
+  throw new Error('package.json packageManager must pin an exact pnpm version');
+}
+
+if (!packageJson.pnpm?.onlyBuiltDependencies?.includes('esbuild')) {
+  throw new Error('package.json must allow the required esbuild install script');
+}
+
+const expectedVersion = match[1];
+const workflowDir = join(root, '.github', 'workflows');
+const workflowFiles = readdirSync(workflowDir).filter((file) => file.endsWith('.yml'));
+let setupCount = 0;
+
+for (const file of workflowFiles) {
+  const lines = readFileSync(join(workflowDir, file), 'utf8').split('\n');
+
+  for (let index = 0; index < lines.length; index += 1) {
+    if (!lines[index].includes('uses: pnpm/action-setup@')) {
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    setupCount += 1;
+    const block = lines.slice(index + 1, index + 6).join('\n');
+    const version = /^\s+version:\s*['"]?([^'"\s]+)['"]?\s*$/m.exec(block)?.[1];
+
+    if (version !== expectedVersion) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `${file} pnpm/action-setup version ${version ?? '(missing)'} must match packageManager ${expectedVersion}`,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+if (setupCount === 0) {
+  throw new Error('Expected at least one pnpm/action-setup workflow');
+}
+
+console.log(`Validated pnpm ${expectedVersion}, esbuild build policy, and ${setupCount} workflow setup(s).`);