diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/build.yml b/.gitea/workflows/build.yml
index 0401aee..8e70352 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/build.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ on:
       - main
 
 jobs:
+  # Detects version changes in package.json compared to previous commit
+  # Outputs the current version and whether it changed from the last commit
+  # This is used to determine if a new release/build is needed
   check_version:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     outputs:
@@ -58,9 +61,62 @@ jobs:
             echo "version_changed=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           fi
 
+  # Verifies if Docker image with current version already exists in registry
+  # This prevents rebuilding the same version but allows pulls and version changes
+  # to always trigger new builds. Uses lightweight manifest inspect (no download)
+  check_image_version:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    outputs:
+      image_exists: ${{ steps.manifest-check.outputs.image_exists }}
+      version: ${{ steps.version-read.outputs.version }}
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Read version from package.json
+        id: version-read
+        run: |
+          VERSION=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
+          echo "version=$VERSION" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "Checking for image version: $VERSION"
+
+      - name: Login to Registry
+        run: |
+          echo "${{ secrets.PROFILE_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}" | docker login registry.budakova.org -u "${{ vars.PROFILE_REGISTRY_USERNAME }}" --password-stdin
+
+      - name: Check if image exists in registry
+        id: manifest-check
+        run: |
+          VERSION=${{ steps.version-read.outputs.version }}
+          IMAGE="registry.budakova.org/knee-cola/gitea-actions-demo-project:${VERSION}"
+
+          echo "Checking manifest for image: $IMAGE"
+
+          if docker manifest inspect "$IMAGE" &>/dev/null; then
+            echo "Image exists in registry"
+            echo "image_exists=true" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          else
+            echo "Image does not exist in registry"
+            echo "image_exists=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          fi
+
+      - name: Summary
+        run: |
+          echo "Version: ${{ steps.version-read.outputs.version }}"
+          echo "Image exists: ${{ steps.manifest-check.outputs.image_exists }}"
+
+  # Builds and pushes Docker image to registry if conditions are met:
+  # - Version changed in package.json, OR
+  # - Image with current version doesn't exist in registry, OR
+  # - This is a pull request (always validate PRs)
+  # This ensures releases are built, missing images are created, and PRs are tested
   build:
-    needs: check_version
-    if: needs.check_version.outputs.version_changed == 'true' || github.event_name == 'pull_request'
+    needs: [check_version, check_image_version]
+    if: |
+      needs.check_version.outputs.version_changed == 'true' ||
+      needs.check_image_version.outputs.image_exists == 'false' ||
+      github.event_name == 'pull_request'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps: