diff --git a/.github/workflows/commit-message-check.yaml b/.github/workflows/commit-message-check.yaml
index 200e68dc2a..d3b28131a3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/commit-message-check.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/commit-message-check.yaml
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ jobs:
       uses: tim-actions/commit-message-checker-with-regex@v0.3.1
       with:
         commits: ${{ steps.get-pr-commits.outputs.commits }}
-        pattern: '\s*Fixes\s*:?\s*(#\d+|github\.com\/kata-containers\/[a-z-.]*#\d+)'
+        pattern: '\s*Fixes\s*:?\s*(#\d+|github\.com\/kata-containers\/[a-z-.]*#\d+)|^\s*release\s*:'
         flags: 'i'
         error: 'No "Fixes" found'
         post_error: ${{ env.error_msg }}