diff --git a/.github/workflows/gitea-release-sync.yml b/.github/workflows/gitea-release-sync.yml
index 07a0884..fae7fee 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gitea-release-sync.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gitea-release-sync.yml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       tag:
-        description: 'Release tag on this GitHub repo (must exist; e.g. v1.0.0)'
+        description: 'Git tag only (e.g. v0.7.11-paragon-foo). NOT the release title — open the release and copy the tag next to the title.'
         required: true
         type: string
 
@@ -51,11 +51,28 @@ jobs:
         id: t
         shell: bash
         run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
           if [ "${{ github.event_name }}" = "workflow_dispatch" ]; then
-            echo "tag=${{ github.event.inputs.tag }}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            RAW="${{ github.event.inputs.tag }}"
           else
-            echo "tag=${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            RAW="${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}"
           fi
+          TAG="$(printf '%s' "$RAW" | sed 's/^[[:space:]]*//;s/[[:space:]]*$//')"
+          if [ "${{ github.event_name }}" = "workflow_dispatch" ]; then
+            if [ -z "$TAG" ]; then
+              echo '::error::Tag input is empty. Paste the git tag (e.g. v0.7.11-…).'
+              exit 1
+            fi
+            if printf '%s' "$TAG" | grep -q '[[:space:]]'; then
+              echo '::error::Tag contains whitespace — that is usually the **release title**, not the tag. On GitHub → Releases → open the release → copy the **tag** (short ref like v0.7.11-…), not the long title line.'
+              exit 1
+            fi
+          fi
+          {
+            echo "tag<<__TAG_EOF__"
+            echo "$TAG"
+            echo "__TAG_EOF__"
+          } >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
   build-electron:
     needs: meta
diff --git a/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/README.md b/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/README.md
index 26edf55..dc45501 100644
--- a/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/README.md
+++ b/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/README.md
@@ -118,12 +118,13 @@ CI workflow **Sync release to Gitea** (`.github/workflows/gitea-release-sync.yml
 ### Sync did not run / Gitea unchanged — checklist
 
 1. **Git tag ≠ GitHub Release** — Only **Releases** (published on the GitHub **Releases** page) trigger this workflow. If your teammate only **`git push --tags`**, create a **Release** from that tag and click **Publish** (or run **Actions → Sync release to Gitea → Run workflow** and enter the tag).
-2. **Draft release** — Must click **Publish release**; drafts do not mirror.
-3. **Workflow on default branch** — GitHub runs `release` workflows from the **default branch** (e.g. `main`). Ensure `.github/workflows/gitea-release-sync.yml` is merged there.
-4. **Repo name guard** — Jobs use `if: github.repository == 'Dawnforger/Fractured'`. Forks or renames must change that line or runs are skipped.
-5. **Secrets** — **`GITEA_BASE_URL`**, **`GITEA_TOKEN`**, **`GITEA_OWNER`**, **`GITEA_REPO`** must be set under **Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions**. A failed “Upload to Gitea” step usually prints which is missing.
-6. **Actions tab** — Open the latest **Sync release to Gitea** run; a red **build-electron** (old tag without `package-lock.json`, etc.) or **Upload to Gitea** step shows the real error.
-7. **HTTP 422 `repo is empty`** — The Gitea repo has **no commits** yet. Push any initial commit (e.g. **Add README** in the Gitea web UI, or `git push` to **`main`**). Optionally set **`GITEA_TARGET_REF`** to match your real default branch if it is not **`main`**. From this repo you can run **`scripts/bootstrap-gitea-repo.sh`** (see script header for `GITEA_*` env or pass the HTTPS/SSH clone URL as the first argument).
+2. **Manual run: tag vs title** — **Run workflow** must receive the **git tag** (e.g. `v0.7.11-paragon-…`), copied from the release page’s tag badge. Pasting the **release title** (long line with spaces/parentheses) breaks `git fetch` with `invalid refspec`.
+3. **Draft release** — Must click **Publish release**; drafts do not mirror.
+4. **Workflow on default branch** — GitHub runs `release` workflows from the **default branch** (e.g. `main`). Ensure `.github/workflows/gitea-release-sync.yml` is merged there.
+5. **Repo name guard** — Jobs use `if: github.repository == 'Dawnforger/Fractured'`. Forks or renames must change that line or runs are skipped.
+6. **Secrets** — **`GITEA_BASE_URL`**, **`GITEA_TOKEN`**, **`GITEA_OWNER`**, **`GITEA_REPO`** must be set under **Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions**. A failed “Upload to Gitea” step usually prints which is missing.
+7. **Actions tab** — Open the latest **Sync release to Gitea** run; a red **build-electron** (old tag without `package-lock.json`, etc.) or **Upload to Gitea** step shows the real error.
+8. **HTTP 422 `repo is empty`** — The Gitea repo has **no commits** yet. Push any initial commit (e.g. **Add README** in the Gitea web UI, or `git push` to **`main`**). Optionally set **`GITEA_TARGET_REF`** to match your real default branch if it is not **`main`**. From this repo you can run **`scripts/bootstrap-gitea-repo.sh`** (see script header for `GITEA_*` env or pass the HTTPS/SSH clone URL as the first argument).
 
 ### Private Gitea token for players