diff --git a/.github/workflows/prep-release.yml b/.github/workflows/prep-release.yml
index 83e9fd15d..211e65c9d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/prep-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/prep-release.yml
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ on:
 jobs:
   prep_release:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
     steps:
       - uses: jupyterlab/maintainer-tools/.github/actions/base-setup@v1