diff --git a/scripts/release/asset_publish.py b/scripts/release/asset_publish.py
index 6d832970f7..96342f8c24 100644
--- a/scripts/release/asset_publish.py
+++ b/scripts/release/asset_publish.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import yaml
 from azureml.assets.config import AssetConfig, PathType
 from azureml.assets.model import ModelDownloadUtils
 from azureml.assets.util import logger
-from azure.ai.ml import load_component, load_model
+from azure.ai.ml import load_model
 from azure.ai.ml.entities import Component, Environment, Model
 
 
@@ -169,7 +169,11 @@ def validate_and_prepare_pipeline_component(
     :rtype: bool
     """
     with open(spec_path) as f:
-        pipeline_dict = yaml.safe_load(f)
+        try:
+            pipeline_dict = yaml.safe_load(f)
+        except Exception:
+            logger.log_error(f"Error in loading component spec at {spec_path}")
+            return False
 
     jobs = pipeline_dict['jobs']
     logger.print(f"Preparing pipeline component {pipeline_dict['name']}")
@@ -177,6 +181,12 @@ def validate_and_prepare_pipeline_component(
 
     for job_name, job_details in jobs.items():
         logger.print(f"job {job_name}")
+        if not job_details.get('component'):
+            # if-else or inline component
+            logger.print(f"component not defined for job {job_name}")
+            updated_jobs[job_name] = job_details
+            continue
+
         try:
             name, version, label, registry = get_parsed_details_from_asset_uri(
                 assets.AssetType.COMPONENT.value, job_details['component'])
@@ -214,7 +224,6 @@ def validate_and_prepare_pipeline_component(
             )
             return False
 
-        # logger.print(asset_details)
         updated_jobs[job_name] = job_details
         updated_jobs[job_name]['component'] = asset_details["id"]
 
@@ -229,15 +238,12 @@ def validate_and_prepare_pipeline_component(
 
 
 def validate_update_command_component(
-    component: Component,
     spec_path: Path,
     final_version: str,
     registry_name: str,
 ) -> bool:
     """Validate and update command component spec.
 
-    :param component: A command component
-    :type component: Component
     :param spec_path: Path of loaded component
     :type spec_path: Path
     :param final_version: Final version string used to create component
@@ -247,9 +253,20 @@ def validate_update_command_component(
     :return: True for successful validation and update
     :rtype: bool
     """
+    with open(spec_path) as f:
+        try:
+            component_dict = yaml.safe_load(f)
+        except Exception:
+            logger.log_error(f"Error in loading component spec at {spec_path}")
+            return False
+
+    component_name = component_dict['name']
+    component_env = component_dict['environment']
+    logger.print(f"Preparing command component {component_name}")
+
     try:
         env_name, env_version, env_label, env_registry_name = get_parsed_details_from_asset_uri(
-            assets.AssetType.ENVIRONMENT.value, component.environment)
+            assets.AssetType.ENVIRONMENT.value, component_env)
     except Exception as e:
         logger.log_error(e)
         return False
@@ -293,13 +310,15 @@ def validate_update_command_component(
             break
 
     if not env:
-        logger.log_error(f"Could not find the env for {component.name}")
+        logger.log_error(f"Could not find the env for {component_name}")
         return False
 
-    env_id = env["id"]
-    logger.print(f"Updating component env to {env_id}")
-    component.environment = env_id
-    if not update_spec(component, spec_path):
+    logger.print(f"Updating component env to {env['id']}")
+    component_dict['environment'] = env['id']
+
+    try:
+        util.dump_yaml(component_dict, spec_path)
+    except Exception:
         logger.log_error(f"Component update failed for asset spec path: {asset.spec_path}")
         return False
     return True
@@ -533,16 +552,16 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
                 # Handle specific asset types
                 if asset.type == assets.AssetType.COMPONENT:
                     # load component and check if environment exists
-                    component = load_component(asset.spec_with_path)
-                    if component.type == assets.ComponentType.PIPELINE.value:
+                    component_type = asset.spec_as_object().type
+                    if component_type == assets.ComponentType.PIPELINE.value:
                         if not validate_and_prepare_pipeline_component(
                             asset.spec_with_path, final_version, registry_name
                         ):
                             failure_list.append(asset)
                             continue
-                    elif component.type is None or component.type == assets.ComponentType.COMMAND.value:
+                    elif component_type is None or component_type == assets.ComponentType.COMMAND.value:
                         if not validate_update_command_component(
-                            component, asset.spec_with_path, final_version, registry_name
+                            asset.spec_with_path, final_version, registry_name
                         ):
                             failure_list.append(asset)
                             continue