diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-prepare.yml b/.github/workflows/release-prepare.yml
index 3b5608d83..8b271bf30 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-prepare.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-prepare.yml
@@ -16,5 +16,5 @@ jobs:
 
     - uses: JarvusInnovations/infra-components@channels/github-actions/release-prepare/latest
       with:
-        github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        github-token: ${{ secrets.BOT_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         release-branch: releases/v3
diff --git a/.holo/sources/slate.toml b/.holo/sources/slate.toml
index 1c9853353..ee00bb786 100644
--- a/.holo/sources/slate.toml
+++ b/.holo/sources/slate.toml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 [holosource]
 url = "https://github.com/SlateFoundation/slate"
-ref = "refs/tags/v2.21.4"
+ref = "refs/tags/v2.21.6"
diff --git a/script/studio b/script/studio
index e8922396e..958917009 100755
--- a/script/studio
+++ b/script/studio
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ fi
 
 if [ $launch_studio = true ]; then
     export HAB_DOCKER_STUDIO_IMAGE="ghcr.io/emergenceplatform/studio:latest"
+    echo
+    echo "==> studio: ensuring Docker studio image is up to date…"
+    docker pull "${HAB_DOCKER_STUDIO_IMAGE}"
+
     echo
     echo "==> studio: launching Docker-powered Chef Habitat studio…"
     set +e