diff --git a/.github/workflows/android.yml b/.github/workflows/android.yml
index 2458489c4..e7570f5db 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/android.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/android.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ on:
     - scripts/docker/**
     branches:
     - master
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   build:
@@ -49,6 +50,12 @@ jobs:
         VERSION: ${{ steps.version_number.outputs.version }}
         VERSION_4: ${{ steps.version_number.outputs.version_4 }}
       run: |
+        BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS=""
+        if [ "${GITHUB_EVENT_NAME}" = "push" ]; then
+          echo "Building a release version"
+          BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS="${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS} release"
+        fi
+
         # this is rather awkward, but it allows us to use the preinstalled
         # Android and Qt versions with relative paths
         cd ..
@@ -65,7 +72,7 @@ jobs:
         git config --global --add safe.directory $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/libdivecomputer
         # get the build number via curl so this works both for a pull request as well as a push
         export OUTPUT_DIR="$GITHUB_WORKSPACE"
-        bash -x ./subsurface/packaging/android/qmake-build.sh -buildnr $BUILDNR -canonicalversion $VERSION -canonicalversion_4 $VERSION_4
+        bash -x ./subsurface/packaging/android/qmake-build.sh ${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS} -buildnr $BUILDNR -canonicalversion $VERSION -canonicalversion_4 $VERSION_4
 
     - name: delete the keystore
       if: github.event_name == 'push'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ios.yml.disabled b/.github/workflows/ios.yml.disabled
index e84f9b351..a895cd86d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ios.yml.disabled
+++ b/.github/workflows/ios.yml.disabled
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ on:
     - scripts/docker/**
     branches:
     - master
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   build:
@@ -45,12 +46,18 @@ jobs:
       env:
         VERSION: ${{ steps.version_number.outputs.version }}
       run: |
+        BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS=""
+        if [ "${GITHUB_EVENT_NAME}" = "push" ]; then
+          echo "Building a release version"
+          BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS="${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS} -release"
+        fi
+
         cd ..
         git config --global --add safe.directory $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
         git config --global --add safe.directory $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/libdivecomputer
         export IOS_QT=$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/qt-ios
         echo "build for simulator"
-        bash -x $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/packaging/ios/build.sh -simulator
+        bash -x $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/packaging/ios/build.sh -simulator ${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS}
         # We need this in order to be able to access the file and publish it
         mv build-Subsurface-mobile-Qt_5_14_1_for_iOS-Release/Release-iphonesimulator/Subsurface-mobile.app $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/Subsurface-mobile-$VERSION.app
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linux-debian-generic.yml b/.github/workflows/linux-debian-generic.yml
index 741896134..980ee36ed 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linux-debian-generic.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux-debian-generic.yml
@@ -71,9 +71,15 @@ jobs:
         echo "--------------------------------------------------------------"
         echo "building desktop"
 
+        BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS=""
+        if [ "${GITHUB_EVENT_NAME}" = "push" ]; then
+          echo "Building a release version"
+          BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS="${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS} -release"
+        fi
+
         # now build for the desktop version (including WebKit)
         cd ..
-        bash -e -x subsurface/scripts/build.sh -desktop -build-with-webkit
+        bash -e -x subsurface/scripts/build.sh -desktop -build-with-webkit ${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS}
 
     - name: test desktop build
       run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linux-debian-trixie-5.15.yml b/.github/workflows/linux-debian-trixie-5.15.yml
index 987576f7a..d14254ddd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linux-debian-trixie-5.15.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux-debian-trixie-5.15.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ on:
     - scripts/docker/**
     branches:
     - master
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   do-build-test:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linux-fedora-35-qt6.yml b/.github/workflows/linux-fedora-35-qt6.yml
index 8c2780472..2e93f2adb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linux-fedora-35-qt6.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux-fedora-35-qt6.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ on:
     - scripts/docker/**
     branches:
     - master
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   build:
@@ -52,12 +53,18 @@ jobs:
         echo "--------------------------------------------------------------"
         echo "building desktop"
 
+        BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS=""
+        if [ "${GITHUB_EVENT_NAME}" = "push" ]; then
+          echo "Building a release version"
+          BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS="${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS} -release"
+        fi
+
         # now build for the desktop version (without WebKit)
         cd ..
         git config --global --add safe.directory $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
         git config --global --add safe.directory $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/libdivecomputer
         git config --global --get-all safe.directory
-        bash -e -x subsurface/scripts/build.sh -desktop -build-with-qt6
+        bash -e -x subsurface/scripts/build.sh -desktop -build-with-qt6 ${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS}
 
     - name: test desktop build
       run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-20.04-qt5-appimage.yml b/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-20.04-qt5-appimage.yml
index 7fdbb71d0..163b83705 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-20.04-qt5-appimage.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-20.04-qt5-appimage.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ on:
     - scripts/docker/**
     branches:
     - master
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   build:
@@ -60,9 +61,15 @@ jobs:
         echo "--------------------------------------------------------------"
         echo "building desktop"
 
+        BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS=""
+        if [ "${GITHUB_EVENT_NAME}" = "push" ]; then
+          echo "Building a release version"
+          BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS="${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS} -release"
+        fi
+
         # now build the appimage
         cd ..
-        bash -e -x subsurface/scripts/build.sh -desktop -create-appdir -build-with-webkit
+        bash -e -x subsurface/scripts/build.sh -desktop -create-appdir -build-with-webkit ${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS}
 
     - name: test desktop build
       run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-20.04-qt5.yml b/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-20.04-qt5.yml
index 6116ce003..6a2efef38 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-20.04-qt5.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-20.04-qt5.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ on:
     - scripts/docker/**
     branches:
     - master
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   do-build-test:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-22.04-qt5.yml b/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-22.04-qt5.yml
index c89770038..e737ccba8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-22.04-qt5.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-22.04-qt5.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ on:
     - scripts/docker/**
     branches:
     - master
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   do-build-test:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-24.04-qt5.yml b/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-24.04-qt5.yml
index ddbc27768..a1fead73b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-24.04-qt5.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux-ubuntu-24.04-qt5.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ on:
     - scripts/docker/**
     branches:
     - master
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   do-build-test:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/mac.yml b/.github/workflows/mac.yml
index 632606a56..46f237365 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/mac.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/mac.yml
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ jobs:
       env:
         CANONICALVERSION: ${{ steps.version_number.outputs.version }}
       run: |
+        BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS=""
+        if [ "${GITHUB_EVENT_NAME}" = "push" ]; then
+          echo "Building a release version"
+          BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS="${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS} -release"
+        fi
+
         cd ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/..
         export QT_ROOT=${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/qt-mac/Qt5.15.15
         export QT_QPA_PLATFORM_PLUGIN_PATH=$QT_ROOT/plugins
@@ -51,7 +57,7 @@ jobs:
         export CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$QT_ROOT/lib/cmake
 
         # now setup Subsurface with WebKit and build the dependencies, using the generic build script
-        bash -e -x ./subsurface/scripts/build.sh -desktop -build-with-webkit -release -build-deps -ftdi -prep-only
+        bash -e -x ./subsurface/scripts/build.sh -desktop -build-with-webkit -build-deps -ftdi -prep-only ${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS}
 
         echo "finished initial cmake setup of Subsurface - next build the package"
         cd subsurface/build
diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows.yml b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
index 06b17dc1d..2416c4c6c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
@@ -47,9 +47,15 @@ jobs:
         CANONICALVERSION: ${{ steps.version_number.outputs.version }}
         CANONICALVERSION_4: ${{ steps.version_number.outputs.version_4 }}
       run: |
+        BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS=""
+        if [ "${GITHUB_EVENT_NAME}" = "push" ]; then
+          echo "Building a release version"
+          BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS="${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS} -release"
+        fi
+
         export OUTPUT_DIR="$GITHUB_WORKSPACE"
         cd /win
-        bash -x subsurface/packaging/windows/in-container-build.sh 2>&1 | tee build.log
+        bash -x subsurface/packaging/windows/in-container-build.sh ${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS} 2>&1 | tee build.log
         grep "Built target installer" build.log
 
     - name: publish pull request artifacts
diff --git a/packaging/windows/in-container-build.sh b/packaging/windows/in-container-build.sh
index c4601f118..1c84c42cb 100755
--- a/packaging/windows/in-container-build.sh
+++ b/packaging/windows/in-container-build.sh
@@ -13,9 +13,17 @@ set -e
 mkdir -p win32
 cd win32
 
+BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS="debug"
+SMTK2SSRF_EXTRA_ARGS="-b debug"
+if [[ "$1" == "-release" ]]; then
+    BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS=""
+    SMTK2SSRF_BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS="-b release"
+    shift
+fi
+
 # build Subsurface
 export MXEBUILDTYPE=x86_64-w64-mingw32.shared
-bash -ex ../subsurface/packaging/windows/mxe-based-build.sh installer
+bash -ex ../subsurface/packaging/windows/mxe-based-build.sh ${BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS} installer
 
 # the strange two step move is in order to get predictable names to use
 # in the publish step of the GitHub Action
@@ -27,7 +35,7 @@ mv subsurface/"$fullname" ${OUTPUT_DIR}/"${fullname%.exe}-installer.exe"
 
 bash -ex ../subsurface/packaging/windows/mxe-based-build.sh -noftdi -nolibraw subsurface
 
-bash -ex ../subsurface/packaging/windows/smtk2ssrf-mxe-build.sh -a -i
+bash -ex ../subsurface/packaging/windows/smtk2ssrf-mxe-build.sh ${SMTK2SSRF_BUILD_EXTRA_ARGS} -a -i
 
 # the strange two step move is in order to get predictable names to use
 # in the publish step of the GitHub Action
diff --git a/packaging/windows/mxe-based-build.sh b/packaging/windows/mxe-based-build.sh
index 9da78dec6..0fc52fbd7 100755
--- a/packaging/windows/mxe-based-build.sh
+++ b/packaging/windows/mxe-based-build.sh
@@ -131,7 +131,6 @@ if [[ "$1" == "debug" ]] ; then
 	RELEASE="Debug"
 	RELEASE_MAIN="Debug"
 	RELEASE_GM="debug"
-	DLL_SUFFIX="d"
 	shift
 	if [[ -f Release ]] ; then
 		rm -rf *
@@ -141,7 +140,6 @@ else
 	RELEASE="Release"
 	RELEASE_MAIN="RelWithDebInfo"
 	RELEASE_GM="release"
-	DLL_SUFFIX=""
 	if [[ -f Debug ]] ; then
 		rm -rf *
 	fi
@@ -281,9 +279,9 @@ done
 
 # for some reason we aren't installing Qt5Xml.dll and Qt5Location.dll
 # I need to figure out why and fix that, but for now just manually copy that as well
-EXTRA_MANUAL_DEPENDENCIES="$BASEDIR/"$MXEDIR"/usr/"$MXEBUILDTYPE"/qt5/bin/Qt5Xml$DLL_SUFFIX.dll \
-$BASEDIR/"$MXEDIR"/usr/"$MXEBUILDTYPE"/qt5/bin/Qt5Location$DLL_SUFFIX.dll \
-$BASEDIR/"$MXEDIR"/usr/"$MXEBUILDTYPE"/qt5/bin/Qt5QmlWorkerScript$DLL_SUFFIX.dll"
+EXTRA_MANUAL_DEPENDENCIES="$BASEDIR/"$MXEDIR"/usr/"$MXEBUILDTYPE"/qt5/bin/Qt5Xml.dll \
+$BASEDIR/"$MXEDIR"/usr/"$MXEBUILDTYPE"/qt5/bin/Qt5Location.dll \
+$BASEDIR/"$MXEDIR"/usr/"$MXEBUILDTYPE"/qt5/bin/Qt5QmlWorkerScript.dll"
 
 for f in $EXTRA_MANUAL_DEPENDENCIES
 do
diff --git a/packaging/windows/smtk2ssrf-mxe-build.sh b/packaging/windows/smtk2ssrf-mxe-build.sh
index 2edf6b45e..491428e32 100755
--- a/packaging/windows/smtk2ssrf-mxe-build.sh
+++ b/packaging/windows/smtk2ssrf-mxe-build.sh
@@ -124,12 +124,10 @@ else
 fi
 case "$RELEASE" in
 	debug|Debug)		RELEASE=Debug
-				DLL_SUFFIX="d"
 				[[ -f Release ]] && rm -rf ./*
 				touch Debug
 				;;
 	release|Release)	RELEASE=Release
-				DLL_SUFFIX=""
 				[[ -f Debug ]] && rm -rf ./*
 				touch Release
 				;;
@@ -175,7 +173,7 @@ $BASEDIR/mxe/usr/x86_64-w64-mingw32.shared/qt5/plugins/platforms"
 
 # This comes from subsurface's mxe-based-build.sh. I'm not sure it is necessary
 # but, well, it doesn't hurt.
-EXTRA_MANUAL_DEPENDENCIES="$BASEDIR/mxe/usr/x86_64-w64-mingw32.shared/qt5/bin/Qt5Xml$DLL_SUFFIX.dll"
+EXTRA_MANUAL_DEPENDENCIES="$BASEDIR/mxe/usr/x86_64-w64-mingw32.shared/qt5/bin/Qt5Xml.dll"
 
 STAGING_DIR=$BUILDDIR/smtk-import/staging