diff --git a/.github/workflows/ghcr_deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/ghcr_deploy.yml
index 90bf7448f..11dd8a356 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ghcr_deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ghcr_deploy.yml
@@ -46,5 +46,5 @@ jobs:
         with:
           context: .
           push: true
-          tags: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.tags }}-${{ github.event.inputs.tag || github.event.release.tag_name }} # if a tag is provided, use that, otherwise use the release tag
+          tags: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.tags }}-${{ github.event.inputs.tag || github.event.release.tag_name || 'latest' }} # if a tag is provided, use that, otherwise use the release tag, and if neither is available, use 'latest'
           labels: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.labels }}