diff --git a/actions/sign/action.yml b/actions/sign/action.yml
index a38cc3a..7be2204 100644
--- a/actions/sign/action.yml
+++ b/actions/sign/action.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ inputs:
   expect-platforms:
     description: The platforms the reference must hold, e.g. "amd64 arm64"; empty takes what is there
     default: ""
+  attest-platforms:
+    description: >-
+      The platforms to attest, e.g. "arm64"; empty attests every one. A release
+      index joins a new platform to one already attested.
+    default: ""
 runs:
   using: composite
   steps:
@@ -25,4 +30,5 @@ runs:
         REF: ${{ inputs.ref }}
         DIR: ${{ inputs.dir }}
         EXPECT_PLATFORMS: ${{ inputs.expect-platforms }}
+        ATTEST_PLATFORMS: ${{ inputs.attest-platforms }}
       run: bash "${{ github.action_path }}/../../bin/sign.sh" "$REF" "$DIR"
diff --git a/bin/sign.sh b/bin/sign.sh
index b72ec63..f0eae7c 100755
--- a/bin/sign.sh
+++ b/bin/sign.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@
 #
 # The platforms are whatever the reference holds (image_tools/platforms.py): an
 # index of amd64 and arm64, or one manifest. EXPECT_PLATFORMS ("amd64 arm64")
-# makes any other set an error.
+# makes any other set an error. ATTEST_PLATFORMS ("arm64") attests only those:
+# a release index joins arm64 to an amd64 image its dev build already attested.
 #
 # Nothing goes to a public transparency log: cosign-signing.json names none, so
 # the names in this registry stay inside. Everything is verified against
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ if [ -n "${EXPECT_PLATFORMS:-}" ]; then
 fi
 
 while read -r arch digest; do
+  case " ${ATTEST_PLATFORMS:-$arch} " in *" $arch "*) ;; *) echo "signed: $image@$digest ($arch)"; continue ;; esac
   for attestation in "$CIS_TYPE cis-$arch.json" "cyclonedx sbom-$arch.cdx.json"; do
     read -r type file <<<"$attestation"
     quietly cosign attest --yes --key env://COSIGN_PRIVATE_KEY --signing-config cosign-signing.json \
diff --git a/tests/test_signing.py b/tests/test_signing.py
index c08680e..fa20589 100644
--- a/tests/test_signing.py
+++ b/tests/test_signing.py
@@ -120,6 +120,30 @@ class TestSign:
         assert sum(f"@{AMD}" in ln for ln in verified) == 2
         assert sum(f"@{ARM}" in ln for ln in verified) == 2
 
+    def test_a_release_index_attests_only_the_platform_it_added(self, tmp_path):
+        """netork's release joins arm64 to the amd64 image its dev build already
+        signed and attested: the new index is signed throughout, and only arm64
+        needs its CIS result and SBOM (ATTEST_PLATFORMS)."""
+        raw = {
+            "mediaType": "application/vnd.oci.image.index.v1+json",
+            "manifests": [
+                {"digest": AMD, "platform": {"os": "linux", "architecture": "amd64"}},
+                {"digest": ARM, "platform": {"os": "linux", "architecture": "arm64"}},
+            ],
+        }
+        env = self._env(tmp_path, raw, {}, ATTEST_PLATFORMS="arm64")
+        attest = self._attest_dir(tmp_path, "arm64")
+
+        result = _run(SIGN, f"{IMAGE}:0.41.0@{INDEX}", str(attest), env=env)
+
+        assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr
+        log = _log(tmp_path)
+        assert any("sign --yes --recursive" in ln and f"@{INDEX}" in ln for ln in log)
+        attests = [ln for ln in log if " attest " in ln]
+        assert len(attests) == 2 and all(f"@{ARM}" in ln for ln in attests)
+        assert f"signed and attested: {IMAGE}@{AMD}" not in result.stdout
+        assert f"signed: {IMAGE}@{AMD} (amd64)" in result.stdout
+
     def test_a_missing_expected_platform_stops_it(self, tmp_path):
         env = self._env(
             tmp_path, {"mediaType": "x"}, {"architecture": "amd64"}, EXPECT_PLATFORMS="amd64 arm64"