diff --git a/.github/actions/README.md b/.github/actions/README.md
index 5f1a38b..2fc045e 100644
--- a/.github/actions/README.md
+++ b/.github/actions/README.md
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ pr-review:
 ## Release actions
 
 Three composite actions implement the org release flow — trunk-first
-candidate, settle-by-PR, publish-once. They are language-agnostic: the only
+candidate, environment-gated settle (or settle-by-PR), publish-once. They are language-agnostic: the only
 repo-specific inputs are where the version lives (`version_file` +
 `version_pattern`: `plain`, `toml`, `json`), an optional `bump_command` for
 whatever else must move with the version (`cargo update --workspace` for a
@@ -386,16 +386,21 @@ Requirements in the consumer repo:
 - Org variable `MEGA_MAXWELL_CLIENT_ID` (the Maxwell app's client id) / secret `MEGA_MAXWELL_PK`. PRs
   and tag pushes must come from an App token: `GITHUB_TOKEN` does not trigger
   downstream workflows.
-- A reviewed settle PR is the human gate for creating a tag: the
-  `release-*` branch ruleset below requires it. No environment approval is
-  needed on the publish job (an `environment:` with required reviewers can
-  be added by repos that want a second, separate approver).
+- The human gate for creating a tag is the settle dispatch: the templates
+  put `environment: release` on the settle job, so its required reviewers
+  approve the run before it starts (create the environment with reviewers,
+  `prevent self-review` off if the dispatcher approves, and a deployment
+  branch policy of the default branch only), and the action's
+  `settlers: admin` checks the dispatching actor again. A repo that settles
+  by PR instead (no `settle_mode`) has the reviewed settle PR as its gate:
+  the `release-*` branch ruleset below requires one.
 - A tag ruleset for `v*` (no creation/deletion/force-push) with the app as a
   bypass actor, so `release-publish` is the only tag creator.
-- A branch ruleset for `release-*` requiring PRs, so settlement is always a
-  reviewed merge. Drift after a settle PR is opened is caught by
-  `release-publish` itself (it refuses if the branch tip at merge is not the
-  settled SHA), so no "up to date" status check is needed.
+- A branch ruleset for `release-*` requiring PRs, with the app as a bypass
+  actor: nothing but the app's settle commit reaches a release branch
+  without a reviewed PR. In PR mode, drift after a settle PR is opened is
+  caught by `release-publish` itself (it refuses if the branch tip at merge
+  is not the settled SHA), so no "up to date" status check is needed.
 - `gh` and `python3` on the runner (any GitHub-hosted image).
 - The cut and publish stages only accept PRs opened by the app identity
   (`pr_author`, default `mega-maxwell[bot]`); the templates also gate the
diff --git a/workflow-templates/release-publish.yml b/workflow-templates/release-publish.yml
index 7d08f1c..4eef8eb 100644
--- a/workflow-templates/release-publish.yml
+++ b/workflow-templates/release-publish.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ name: Release Publish
 #
 # This file must exist on the release branch (it does, when the branch is cut
 # from a default branch that has it).
+#
+# Only settlement by PR reaches this workflow. With `settle_mode: direct` in
+# release-settle.yml (the template's default) the settle job publishes
+# itself and nothing here ever fires: the job gate above rejects any settle
+# PR the app did not open.
 
 on:
   pull_request:
diff --git a/workflow-templates/release-settle.yml b/workflow-templates/release-settle.yml
index c70acb4..3707c94 100644
--- a/workflow-templates/release-settle.yml
+++ b/workflow-templates/release-settle.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,21 @@
 name: Release Settle
 
-# Propose settling a release candidate. Dispatch from any branch with the
+# Settle a release candidate. Dispatch from the default branch with the
 # version and the full SHA of the release-branch tip; the shared action
 # verifies it, generates release notes from the commits since the previous
-# tag, writes them to the changelog, and opens a settle PR onto the release
-# branch. Merging that PR is the settlement decision (release-publish tags it).
+# tag, commits them to the changelog on the release branch, and publishes:
+# annotated tag at that commit, GitHub Release with the notes.
+#
+# The dispatch is the settlement decision, gated twice: the `release`
+# environment on the job (its required reviewers approve the run before it
+# starts; give it a deployment branch policy of the default branch only) and
+# `settlers` in the action (the dispatching actor must be a repository
+# admin, or a listed login). The app must be a bypass actor on the
+# release-branch ruleset and on the `v*` tag ruleset.
+#
+# To settle by PR instead — a reviewed `chore/release-settle-vX.Y.Z` PR onto
+# the release branch, tagged by release-publish.yml when it merges — remove
+# `environment:`, `settle_mode` and `settlers` below.
 
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
@@ -18,8 +29,8 @@ on:
         required: true
         type: string
 
-# One settle per version: two dispatches for the same version would both
-# force-push the same settle branch. Queue, never cancel.
+# One settle per version: two dispatches for the same version would race on
+# the release branch. Queue, never cancel.
 concurrency:
   group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ inputs.version }}
   cancel-in-progress: false
@@ -30,6 +41,7 @@ permissions:
 jobs:
   settle:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    environment: release
     steps:
       - uses: actions/create-github-app-token@bcd2ba49218906704ab6c1aa796996da409d3eb1 # v3
         id: app-token
@@ -50,8 +62,5 @@ jobs:
           version_file: VERSION
           version_pattern: plain
           changelog_file: CHANGELOG.md
-          # Settle without a PR — the dispatch is the decision, enforced by
-          # `settlers` (logins and/or `admin` = repository admins). The app
-          # must be a bypass actor on the release-branch ruleset.
-          #   settle_mode: direct
-          #   settlers: admin
+          settle_mode: direct
+          settlers: admin