diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 2f75d1f8..c446f58c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Release
 
 env:
-  GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+  GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.TAG_PR_TOKEN }}
 
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
diff --git a/utils/publish-release.sh b/utils/publish-release.sh
index 242f288b..d38dc5af 100755
--- a/utils/publish-release.sh
+++ b/utils/publish-release.sh
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ git add ../README.md
 git commit -m "[v$new_version] $RELEASE_TITLE"
 
 # # push the commit and create a PR
-git push -u "https://${GITHUB_ACTOR}:${GH_TOKEN}@github.com/aws/aws-iot-device-sdk-python-v2.git" ${new_version_branch}
+git push -u "https://${GITHUB_ACTOR}:${GITHUB_TOKEN}@github.com/aws/aws-iot-device-sdk-python-v2.git" ${new_version_branch}
 gh pr create --title "AutoTag PR for v${new_version}" --body "AutoTag PR for v${new_version}" --head ${new_version_branch}
 
 # # Merge the PR