diff --git a/maintainers/release-process.md b/maintainers/release-process.md
index 37b38fb9f..fa47bbb1d 100644
--- a/maintainers/release-process.md
+++ b/maintainers/release-process.md
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ release:
   ```console
   $ export VERSION=X.YY
   $ git checkout -b release-notes
+  $ export GITHUB_TOKEN=...
   $ ./maintainers/release-notes
   ```