A curved cartridge assembly of a surgical stapler includes a staple cartridge, an alignment pin received in the staple cartridge and configured to engage an opening in an anvil assembly, and a shipping cap configured to detachably couple to the staple cartridge. The shipping cap has is engaged with the distal end portion of the alignment pin to resist translation of the alignment pin. With the cartridge assembly loaded into the surgical stapler, upon releasing the shipping cap from the staple cartridge the alignment pin translates into engagement with the opening in the anvil assembly.