diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index b16030e..747ff49 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -19,7 +19,27 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     
     steps:
-  
+      - name: Check Team Membership
+        id: check_team
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_GITHUB_SECRET }}
+          TEAM_SLUG: 'reviewers' 
+          ORG_NAME: 'paywallone' 
+        run: |
+          ACTOR="${{ github.actor }}"
+          TEAM_MEMBERSHIP_RESPONSE=$(curl -s \
+            -H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
+            -H "Accept: application/vnd.github.v3+json" \
+            "https://api.github.com/orgs/$ORG_NAME/teams/$TEAM_SLUG/memberships/$ACTOR")
+            echo "$TEAM_MEMBERSHIP_RESPONSE"
+          if echo "$TEAM_MEMBERSHIP_RESPONSE" | grep -q '"state": "active"'; then
+            echo "Actor $ACTOR is a member of the team."
+            echo "::set-output name=is_member::true"
+          else
+            echo "Actor $ACTOR is NOT a member of the team."
+            echo "::set-output name=is_member::false"
+            exit 1
+          fi
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v4