diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9cd7054e03ac..eb67172a3bd5 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -417,6 +417,8 @@ release: clean-release ## Builds and push container images using the latest git
 	@if [ -z "${RELEASE_TAG}" ]; then echo "RELEASE_TAG is not set"; exit 1; fi
 	@if ! [ -z "$$(git status --porcelain)" ]; then echo "Your local git repository contains uncommitted changes, use git clean before proceeding."; exit 1; fi
 	git checkout "${RELEASE_TAG}"
+	# Build binaries first.
+	$(MAKE) release-binaries
 	# Set the core manifest image to the production bucket.
 	$(MAKE) set-manifest-image \
 		MANIFEST_IMG=$(PROD_REGISTRY)/$(IMAGE_NAME) MANIFEST_TAG=$(RELEASE_TAG) \
@@ -433,7 +435,6 @@ release: clean-release ## Builds and push container images using the latest git
 	$(MAKE) set-manifest-pull-policy PULL_POLICY=IfNotPresent TARGET_RESOURCE="./bootstrap/kubeadm/config/manager/manager_pull_policy.yaml"
 	$(MAKE) set-manifest-pull-policy PULL_POLICY=IfNotPresent TARGET_RESOURCE="./controlplane/kubeadm/config/manager/manager_pull_policy.yaml"
 	$(MAKE) release-manifests
-	$(MAKE) release-binaries
 
 .PHONY: release-manifests
 release-manifests: $(RELEASE_DIR) $(KUSTOMIZE) ## Builds the manifests to publish with a release