diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/post-merge.yml b/.gitea/workflows/post-merge.yml
index 675f27e..8290bdc 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/post-merge.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/post-merge.yml
@@ -8,15 +8,18 @@ name: Post-merge
 #
 #   detect-type ──┬── release (skip if release commit)
 #                 ├── sync-wiki (skip if release commit)
-#                 ├── badges (runs after release, even if it fails)
-#                 └── vikunja (skip if release commit)
+#                 ├── badges (ALWAYS runs — even on release commits)
+#                 ├── vikunja (skip if release commit)
+#                 └── configure-repo (skip if release commit)
 #
 # The badges job depends on release so it picks up the latest version
-# number. It uses `if: always()` to run even if release fails or is
-# skipped, ensuring badges always reflect the current repo state.
+# number. It uses `if: always()` with no is-release condition so it
+# runs on every push to master, including release commits. This
+# ensures badges (tests, coverage, version, etc.) are always current.
 #
-# When release.py creates a "release: vX.Y.Z" commit, all jobs skip
-# because it's a release commit. The tag push triggers publish.yml.
+# When release.py creates a "release: vX.Y.Z" commit, the release
+# commit's post-merge run still updates badges (version badge picks
+# up the new version). Other jobs skip. The tag push triggers publish.yml.
 
 on:
   push:
@@ -103,7 +106,7 @@ jobs:
 
   badges:
     needs: [detect-type, release]
-    if: always() && needs.detect-type.outputs.is-release == 'false'
+    if: always()
     runs-on: docker
     timeout-minutes: 10
     steps:
@@ -176,5 +179,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Ensure branch protection and labels
         env:
           REPO_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.REPO_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
+          PYTHONPATH: .:src
         run: python3 scripts/configure_repo.py
+      - name: Notify on failure
+        if: failure()
+        env:
+          REPO_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.REPO_TOKEN }}
+          PYTHONPATH: .:src
+        run: |
+          python3 scripts/ci/notify_failure.py \
+            --repo "${{ github.repository }}" \
+            --run-id "${{ github.run_id }}" \
+            --workflow "post-merge/configure-repo" \
+            --commit "${{ github.sha }}"