diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-release.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-release.yml
index 087ce1b56c90f..edc25fcb4bd67 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-release.yml
@@ -145,12 +145,12 @@ jobs:
           conclusion: ${{ job.status }}
           check_id: ${{ steps.create-check.outputs.check-id }}
 
-  smoke-publish:
-    # This cant be tested on Windows because our node_modules directory
-    # checks in symlinks which are not supported there. This should be
-    # fixed somehow, because this means some forms of local development
-    # are likely broken on Windows as well.
-    name: Smoke Publish - ${{ matrix.platform.name }} - ${{ matrix.node-version }}
+  smoke-tests:
+    # This cant be tested on Windows because our node_modules directory	
+    # checks in symlinks which are not supported there. This should be	
+    # fixed somehow, because this means some forms of local development	
+    # are likely broken on Windows as well.	
+    name: Smoke Tests - ${{ matrix.platform.name }} - ${{ matrix.node-version }}
     if: github.repository_owner == 'npm'
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ jobs:
         if: ${{ inputs.check-sha }}
         uses: ./.github/actions/create-check
         with:
-          name: "Smoke Publish - ${{ matrix.platform.name }} - ${{ matrix.node-version }}"
+          name: "Smoke Tests - ${{ matrix.platform.name }} - ${{ matrix.node-version }}"
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           sha: ${{ inputs.check-sha }}
       - name: Setup Node
@@ -196,8 +196,69 @@ jobs:
         run: node scripts/git-dirty.js
       - name: Reset Deps
         run: node scripts/resetdeps.js
-      - name: Smoke Publish
-        run: ./scripts/smoke-publish-test.sh
+      - name: Smoke Tests
+        run: ./scripts/smoke-tests.sh
+      - name: Conclude Check
+        uses: LouisBrunner/checks-action@v1.6.0
+        if: steps.create-check.outputs.check-id && always()
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          conclusion: ${{ job.status }}
+          check_id: ${{ steps.create-check.outputs.check-id }}
+
+  publish-dryrun:
+    # This cant be tested on Windows because our node_modules directory	
+    # checks in symlinks which are not supported there. This should be	
+    # fixed somehow, because this means some forms of local development	
+    # are likely broken on Windows as well.	
+    name: Publish Dry-Run - ${{ matrix.platform.name }} - ${{ matrix.node-version }}
+    if: github.repository_owner == 'npm'
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        platform:
+          - name: Linux
+            os: ubuntu-latest
+            shell: bash
+        node-version:
+          - 20.17.0
+          - 20.x
+          - 22.9.0
+          - 22.x
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.platform.os }}
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        shell: ${{ matrix.platform.shell }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ inputs.ref }}
+      - name: Setup Git User
+        run: |
+          git config --global user.email "npm-cli+bot@github.com"
+          git config --global user.name "npm CLI robot"
+      - name: Create Check
+        id: create-check
+        if: ${{ inputs.check-sha }}
+        uses: ./.github/actions/create-check
+        with:
+          name: "Publish Dry-Run - ${{ matrix.platform.name }} - ${{ matrix.node-version }}"
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          sha: ${{ inputs.check-sha }}
+      - name: Setup Node
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        id: node
+        with:
+          node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
+          check-latest: contains(matrix.node-version, '.x')
+          cache: npm
+      - name: Check Git Status
+        run: node scripts/git-dirty.js
+      - name: Reset Deps
+        run: node scripts/resetdeps.js
+      - name: Publish Dry-Run
+        run: node ./scripts/publish.js --pack-destination=$RUNNER_TEMP --smoke-publish=true
       - name: Conclude Check
         uses: LouisBrunner/checks-action@v1.6.0
         if: steps.create-check.outputs.check-id && always()
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index bb754da8e6111..e53689d0ebedd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -147,6 +147,10 @@ jobs:
         run: node . run licenses
 
   smoke-tests:
+    # This cant be tested on Windows because our node_modules directory	
+    # checks in symlinks which are not supported there. This should be	
+    # fixed somehow, because this means some forms of local development	
+    # are likely broken on Windows as well.	
     name: Smoke Tests
     if: github.repository_owner == 'npm'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -156,10 +160,20 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ inputs.ref }}
       - name: Setup Git User
         run: |
           git config --global user.email "npm-cli+bot@github.com"
           git config --global user.name "npm CLI robot"
+      - name: Create Check
+        id: create-check
+        if: ${{ inputs.check-sha }}
+        uses: ./.github/actions/create-check
+        with:
+          name: "Smoke Tests"
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          sha: ${{ inputs.check-sha }}
       - name: Setup Node
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         id: node
@@ -171,10 +185,64 @@ jobs:
         run: node scripts/git-dirty.js
       - name: Reset Deps
         run: node scripts/resetdeps.js
-      - name: Run Smoke Tests
-        run: node . test -w smoke-tests --ignore-scripts
+      - name: Smoke Tests
+        run: ./scripts/smoke-tests.sh
+      - name: Conclude Check
+        uses: LouisBrunner/checks-action@v1.6.0
+        if: steps.create-check.outputs.check-id && always()
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          conclusion: ${{ job.status }}
+          check_id: ${{ steps.create-check.outputs.check-id }}
+
+  publish-dryrun:
+    # This cant be tested on Windows because our node_modules directory	
+    # checks in symlinks which are not supported there. This should be	
+    # fixed somehow, because this means some forms of local development	
+    # are likely broken on Windows as well.	
+    name: Publish Dry-Run
+    if: github.repository_owner == 'npm'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        shell: bash
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ inputs.ref }}
+      - name: Setup Git User
+        run: |
+          git config --global user.email "npm-cli+bot@github.com"
+          git config --global user.name "npm CLI robot"
+      - name: Create Check
+        id: create-check
+        if: ${{ inputs.check-sha }}
+        uses: ./.github/actions/create-check
+        with:
+          name: "Publish Dry-Run"
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          sha: ${{ inputs.check-sha }}
+      - name: Setup Node
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        id: node
+        with:
+          node-version: 22.x
+          check-latest: contains('22.x', '.x')
+          cache: npm
       - name: Check Git Status
         run: node scripts/git-dirty.js
+      - name: Reset Deps
+        run: node scripts/resetdeps.js
+      - name: Publish Dry-Run
+        run: node ./scripts/publish.js --pack-destination=$RUNNER_TEMP --smoke-publish=true
+      - name: Conclude Check
+        uses: LouisBrunner/checks-action@v1.6.0
+        if: steps.create-check.outputs.check-id && always()
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          conclusion: ${{ job.status }}
+          check_id: ${{ steps.create-check.outputs.check-id }}
 
   windows-shims:
     name: Windows Shims Tests
diff --git a/scripts/smoke-tests.js b/scripts/smoke-tests.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e69de29bb2d1d
diff --git a/scripts/smoke-publish-test.sh b/scripts/smoke-tests.sh
similarity index 97%
rename from scripts/smoke-publish-test.sh
rename to scripts/smoke-tests.sh
index 5de4f32931cf7..0acda09c26b38 100755
--- a/scripts/smoke-publish-test.sh
+++ b/scripts/smoke-tests.sh
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ fi
 # were publishing it to the registry. The only difference is in the
 # publish.js script which will only pack and not publish
 node . version $NPM_VERSION --ignore-scripts --git-tag-version="$IS_CI"
-node scripts/publish.js --pack-destination=$RUNNER_TEMP --smoke-publish=true
+node . pack . --pack-destination "$RUNNER_TEMP"
 NPM_TARBALL="$RUNNER_TEMP/npm-$NPM_VERSION.tgz"
 node . install --global $NPM_TARBALL
 
diff --git a/scripts/template-oss/ci-release-yml.hbs b/scripts/template-oss/ci-release-yml.hbs
index 8ff869812a331..6ec27f1b2e9d2 100644
--- a/scripts/template-oss/ci-release-yml.hbs
+++ b/scripts/template-oss/ci-release-yml.hbs
@@ -1,23 +1,45 @@
-{{> ciReleaseYml }}
+{{> ciReleaseYml }}	
 
-  smoke-publish:
-    # This cant be tested on Windows because our node_modules directory
-    # checks in symlinks which are not supported there. This should be
-    # fixed somehow, because this means some forms of local development
-    # are likely broken on Windows as well.
-    {{> jobMatrixYml
-      jobName="Smoke Publish"
-      jobCheckout=(obj ref="${{ inputs.ref }}")
-      jobCreateCheck=(obj sha="${{ inputs.check-sha }}")
-      windowsCI=false
-      macCI=false
-    }}
-      - name: Smoke Publish
-        run: ./scripts/smoke-publish-test.sh
-      - name: Conclude Check
-        uses: LouisBrunner/checks-action@v1.6.0
-        if: steps.create-check.outputs.check-id && always()
-        with:
-          token: $\{{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-          conclusion: $\{{ job.status }}
-          check_id: $\{{ steps.create-check.outputs.check-id }}
+  smoke-tests:	
+    # This cant be tested on Windows because our node_modules directory	
+    # checks in symlinks which are not supported there. This should be	
+    # fixed somehow, because this means some forms of local development	
+    # are likely broken on Windows as well.	
+    {{> jobMatrixYml	
+      jobName="Smoke Tests"	
+      jobCheckout=(obj ref="${{ inputs.ref }}")	
+      jobCreateCheck=(obj sha="${{ inputs.check-sha }}")	
+      windowsCI=false	
+      macCI=false	
+    }}	
+      - name: Smoke Tests	
+        run: ./scripts/smoke-tests.sh	
+      - name: Conclude Check	
+        uses: LouisBrunner/checks-action@v1.6.0	
+        if: steps.create-check.outputs.check-id && always()	
+        with:	
+          token: $\{{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}	
+          conclusion: $\{{ job.status }}	
+          check_id: $\{{ steps.create-check.outputs.check-id }}	
+
+  publish-dryrun:	
+    # This cant be tested on Windows because our node_modules directory	
+    # checks in symlinks which are not supported there. This should be	
+    # fixed somehow, because this means some forms of local development	
+    # are likely broken on Windows as well.	
+    {{> jobMatrixYml	
+      jobName="Publish Dry-Run"	
+      jobCheckout=(obj ref="${{ inputs.ref }}")	
+      jobCreateCheck=(obj sha="${{ inputs.check-sha }}")	
+      windowsCI=false	
+      macCI=false	
+    }}	
+      - name: Publish Dry-Run	
+        run: node ./scripts/publish.js --pack-destination=$RUNNER_TEMP --smoke-publish=true 
+      - name: Conclude Check	
+        uses: LouisBrunner/checks-action@v1.6.0	
+        if: steps.create-check.outputs.check-id && always()	
+        with:	
+          token: $\{{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}	
+          conclusion: $\{{ job.status }}	
+          check_id: $\{{ steps.create-check.outputs.check-id }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/template-oss/ci-yml.hbs b/scripts/template-oss/ci-yml.hbs
index bdd4e3b5ccab5..386a3716deadd 100644
--- a/scripts/template-oss/ci-yml.hbs
+++ b/scripts/template-oss/ci-yml.hbs
@@ -5,12 +5,49 @@
       - name: Check Licenses
         run: {{rootNpmPath}} run licenses
 
-  smoke-tests:
-    {{> jobYml jobName="Smoke Tests" }}
-      - name: Run Smoke Tests
-        run: {{rootNpmPath}} test -w smoke-tests --ignore-scripts
-      - name: Check Git Status
-        run: node scripts/git-dirty.js
+  smoke-tests:	
+    # This cant be tested on Windows because our node_modules directory	
+    # checks in symlinks which are not supported there. This should be	
+    # fixed somehow, because this means some forms of local development	
+    # are likely broken on Windows as well.	
+    {{> jobYml	
+      jobName="Smoke Tests"	
+      jobCheckout=(obj ref="${{ inputs.ref }}")	
+      jobCreateCheck=(obj sha="${{ inputs.check-sha }}")	
+      windowsCI=false	
+      macCI=false	
+    }}	
+      - name: Smoke Tests	
+        run: ./scripts/smoke-tests.sh	
+      - name: Conclude Check	
+        uses: LouisBrunner/checks-action@v1.6.0	
+        if: steps.create-check.outputs.check-id && always()	
+        with:	
+          token: $\{{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}	
+          conclusion: $\{{ job.status }}	
+          check_id: $\{{ steps.create-check.outputs.check-id }}	
+
+  publish-dryrun:	
+    # This cant be tested on Windows because our node_modules directory	
+    # checks in symlinks which are not supported there. This should be	
+    # fixed somehow, because this means some forms of local development	
+    # are likely broken on Windows as well.	
+    {{> jobYml	
+      jobName="Publish Dry-Run"	
+      jobCheckout=(obj ref="${{ inputs.ref }}")	
+      jobCreateCheck=(obj sha="${{ inputs.check-sha }}")	
+      windowsCI=false	
+      macCI=false	
+    }}	
+      - name: Publish Dry-Run	
+        run: node ./scripts/publish.js --pack-destination=$RUNNER_TEMP --smoke-publish=true 
+      - name: Conclude Check	
+        uses: LouisBrunner/checks-action@v1.6.0	
+        if: steps.create-check.outputs.check-id && always()	
+        with:	
+          token: $\{{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}	
+          conclusion: $\{{ job.status }}	
+          check_id: $\{{ steps.create-check.outputs.check-id }}
 
   windows-shims:
     name: Windows Shims Tests