diff --git a/.github/workflows/release_prep.sh b/.github/workflows/release_prep.sh
index aae8e09..4271441 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/release_prep.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/release_prep.sh
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ PREFIX="toolchains_protoc-${TAG:1}"
 ARCHIVE="toolchains_protoc-$TAG.tar.gz"
 
 # NB: configuration for 'git archive' is in /.gitattributes
-git archive --format=tar --prefix=${PREFIX}/ ${TAG} | gzip > $ARCHIVE
+git archive --format=tar --prefix=${PREFIX}/ ${TAG} | gzip >$ARCHIVE
 SHA=$(shasum -a 256 $ARCHIVE | awk '{print $1}')
 
-cat << EOF
+cat <<EOF
 ## Using Bzlmod with Bazel 6
 
 1. Enable with \`common --enable_bzlmod\` in \`.bazelrc\`.
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ cat << EOF
 bazel_dep(name = "toolchains_protoc", version = "${TAG:1}")
 \`\`\`
 
+protoc.toolchain(
+    version = "v26.1",
+)
+use_repo(protoc, "toolchains_protoc_hub")
+
 ## Using WORKSPACE
 
 Paste this snippet into your \`WORKSPACE.bazel\` file:
@@ -40,4 +45,4 @@ http_archive(
 EOF
 
 awk 'f;/--SNIP--/{f=1}' e2e/smoke/WORKSPACE.bazel
-echo "\`\`\`" 
+echo "\`\`\`"
diff --git a/MODULE.bazel b/MODULE.bazel
index 2e01155..62ea0a4 100644
--- a/MODULE.bazel
+++ b/MODULE.bazel
@@ -10,14 +10,21 @@ bazel_dep(name = "bazel_skylib", version = "1.4.1")
 bazel_dep(name = "rules_proto", version = "6.0.0")
 bazel_dep(name = "platforms", version = "0.0.8")
 
-protoc = use_extension("//protoc:extensions.bzl", "protoc")
+protoc = use_extension(
+    "//protoc:extensions.bzl",
+    "protoc",
+    dev_dependency = True,
+)
 protoc.toolchain(
     google_protobuf = "com_google_protobuf",
     version = "v25.3",
 )
 use_repo(protoc, "com_google_protobuf", "toolchains_protoc_hub")
 
-register_toolchains("@toolchains_protoc_hub//:all")
+register_toolchains(
+    "@toolchains_protoc_hub//:all",
+    dev_dependency = True,
+)
 
 bazel_dep(name = "aspect_bazel_lib", version = "1.32.1", dev_dependency = True)
 bazel_dep(name = "buildifier_prebuilt", version = "6.1.2", dev_dependency = True)