diff --git a/lib/prepare_release.js b/lib/prepare_release.js
index 62083743..2dff11d0 100644
--- a/lib/prepare_release.js
+++ b/lib/prepare_release.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import path from 'node:path';
 import { promises as fs, existsSync, readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
 
 import semver from 'semver';
-import { replaceInFile } from 'replace-in-file';
 
 import { forceRunAsync, runAsync, runSync } from './run.js';
 import { writeJson, readJson } from './file.js';
@@ -518,11 +517,24 @@ export default class ReleasePreparation extends Session {
   async updateREPLACEMEs() {
     const { newVersion } = this;
 
-    await replaceInFile({
-      files: 'doc/api/*.md',
-      from: /REPLACEME/g,
-      to: `v${newVersion}`
-    });
+    const promises = [];
+    for await (const file of fs.glob('doc/api/*.md')) {
+      promises.push(fs.open(file, 'r+').then(async fd => {
+        try {
+          const fileContent = await fd.readFile('utf-8');
+          if (fileContent.includes('REPLACEME')) {
+            const { bytesWritten } =
+              await fd.write(fileContent.replaceAll('REPLACEME', `v${newVersion}`), 0, 'utf-8');
+            await fd.truncate(bytesWritten);
+          }
+        // eslint-disable-next-line promise/always-return
+        } finally {
+          // TODO: replace with `using` syntax when dropping support for Node.js 22
+          await fd.close();
+        }
+      }));
+    }
+    await Promise.all(promises);
   }
 
   async updateMainChangelog() {
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index abc7c6e2..d7e09396 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
         "lodash",
         "log-symbols",
         "ora",
-        "replace-in-file",
         "semver",
         "smol-toml",
         "undici",
@@ -51,7 +50,6 @@
         "lodash": "^4.17.21",
         "log-symbols": "^7.0.0",
         "ora": "^9.0.0",
-        "replace-in-file": "^8.3.0",
         "semver": "^7.7.1",
         "smol-toml": "^1.7.0",
         "undici": "^8.3.0",
@@ -8576,37 +8574,6 @@
         "url": "https://opencollective.com/unified"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/replace-in-file": {
-      "version": "8.4.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/replace-in-file/-/replace-in-file-8.4.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-D28k8jy2LtUGbCzCnR3znajaTWIjJ/Uee3UdodzcHRxE7zn6NmYW/dcSqyivnsYU3W+MxdX6SbF28NvJ0GRoLA==",
-      "inBundle": true,
-      "license": "MIT",
-      "dependencies": {
-        "chalk": "^5.6.2",
-        "glob": "^13.0.0",
-        "yargs": "^18.0.0"
-      },
-      "bin": {
-        "replace-in-file": "bin/cli.js"
-      },
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">=18"
-      }
-    },
-    "node_modules/replace-in-file/node_modules/chalk": {
-      "version": "5.6.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/chalk/-/chalk-5.6.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-7NzBL0rN6fMUW+f7A6Io4h40qQlG+xGmtMxfbnH/K7TAtt8JQWVQK+6g0UXKMeVJoyV5EkkNsErQ8pVD3bLHbA==",
-      "inBundle": true,
-      "license": "MIT",
-      "engines": {
-        "node": "^12.17.0 || ^14.13 || >=16.0.0"
-      },
-      "funding": {
-        "url": "https://github.com/chalk/chalk?sponsor=1"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/require-directory": {
       "version": "2.1.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/require-directory/-/require-directory-2.1.1.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index efc6a82a..4fa21223 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@
     "lodash": "^4.17.21",
     "log-symbols": "^7.0.0",
     "ora": "^9.0.0",
-    "replace-in-file": "^8.3.0",
     "semver": "^7.7.1",
     "smol-toml": "^1.7.0",
     "undici": "^8.3.0",