diff --git a/.github/workflows/renovate.yml b/.github/workflows/renovate.yml
index e081ecbd..5595845a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/renovate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/renovate.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ name: Renovate
 
 on:
   schedule:
-    - cron: '0 5 * * *' # daily 05:00 EST
+    - cron: '0 5 * * *' # daily 05:00 UTC
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 permissions:
@@ -18,28 +18,11 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@8e8c483db84b4bee98b60c0593521ed34d9990e8 # v6
         with:
           fetch-depth: 1
-      - name: Choose Renovate Token
-        run: |
-          # Prefer explicit tokens (GITHUB_TOKEN > CPMP_TOKEN) if provided; otherwise use the default GITHUB_TOKEN
-          if [ -n "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" ]; then
-            echo "Using GITHUB_TOKEN" >&2
-            echo "GITHUB_TOKEN=${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          else
-            echo "Using default GITHUB_TOKEN from Actions" >&2
-            echo "GITHUB_TOKEN=${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          fi
-
-      - name: Fail-fast if token not set
-        run: |
-          if [ -z "${{ env.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" ]; then
-            echo "ERROR: No Renovate token provided. Set GITHUB_TOKEN, CPMP_TOKEN, or rely on default GITHUB_TOKEN." >&2
-            exit 1
-          fi
 
       - name: Run Renovate
         uses: renovatebot/github-action@502904f1cefdd70cba026cb1cbd8c53a1443e91b # v44.1.0
         with:
           configurationFile: .github/renovate.json
-          token: ${{ env.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         env:
           LOG_LEVEL: info