diff --git a/.forgejo/workflows/release-image.yml b/.forgejo/workflows/release-image.yml
index b1a26e24..2b3d481f 100644
--- a/.forgejo/workflows/release-image.yml
+++ b/.forgejo/workflows/release-image.yml
@@ -105,6 +105,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
         uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
+        with:
+          # Use persistent BuildKit if BUILDKIT_ENDPOINT is set (e.g. tcp://buildkit:8125)
+          driver: ${{ env.BUILDKIT_ENDPOINT != '' && 'remote' || 'docker-container' }}
+          endpoint: ${{ env.BUILDKIT_ENDPOINT || '' }}
       - name: Set up QEMU
         uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v3
       # Uses the `docker/login-action` action to log in to the Container registry registry using the account and password that will publish the packages. Once published, the packages are scoped to the account defined here.
@@ -262,6 +266,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
         uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
+        with:
+          # Use persistent BuildKit if BUILDKIT_ENDPOINT is set (e.g. tcp://buildkit:8125)
+          driver: ${{ env.BUILDKIT_ENDPOINT != '' && 'remote' || 'docker-container' }}
+          endpoint: ${{ env.BUILDKIT_ENDPOINT || '' }}
 
       - name: Extract metadata (tags) for Docker
         id: meta