diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index db4d2b0c5..2046c8d07 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -13,11 +13,12 @@ jobs:
       contents: write
       pull-requests: write
     steps:
+      # fetch a temporary token so workflows are triggered by the release step which doesn't work with the GITHUB_TOKEN
       - uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v1
         id: app-token
         with:
           app-id: ${{ vars.GET_TOKEN_APP_ID }}
-          private-key: ${{ secrets.GET_TOKEN_PRIVATE_KEY }}
+          private-key: ${{ secrets.GET_TOKEN_APP_PRIVATE_KEY }}
       # bootstrap-sha and release-as needs to be removed after first release
       - name: Release
         uses: google-github-actions/release-please-action@1ddb669c677d585663a83fc535edc428954c4aeb # ratchet:google-github-actions/release-please-action@v3