diff --git a/.releaserc b/.releaserc
index 4be8a8a5..1dac2a68 100644
--- a/.releaserc
+++ b/.releaserc
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
           }],
           ["@semantic-release/git", {
             "assets": ["./CHANGELOG.md", "./pom.xml", "./README.md"],
-            "message": "AWS Encryption SDK ${nextRelease.version} Release -- $(date +%Y-%m-%d) \n\n${nextRelease.notes}"
+            "message": "AWS Encryption SDK ${nextRelease.version} Release -- ${new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 10)} \n\n${nextRelease.notes}"
           }],
     ],
     "repositoryUrl": "https://github.com/aws/aws-encryption-sdk-java",
diff --git a/codebuild/release/upload_artifacts.yml b/codebuild/release/upload_artifacts.yml
index 178ffcb6..cb41596b 100644
--- a/codebuild/release/upload_artifacts.yml
+++ b/codebuild/release/upload_artifacts.yml
@@ -42,4 +42,4 @@ phases:
         mvn org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-dependency-plugin:3.1.2:get \
           -DrepoUrl=https://aws.oss.sonatype.org \
           -Dartifact=com.amazonaws:aws-encryption-sdk-java:${VERSION}:jar:javadoc
-      - gh release create v${VERSION} ~/.m2/repository/com/amazonaws/aws-encryption-sdk-java/${VERSION}/*.jar -d -F CHANGELOG.md -t "AWS Encryption SDK ${VERSION} Release -- $(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
+      - gh release create v${VERSION} ~/.m2/repository/com/amazonaws/aws-encryption-sdk-java/${VERSION}/*.jar -d -F CHANGELOG.md -t "AWS Encryption SDK ${VERSION} Release -- $(date +'%Y-%m-%d')"