diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 13873ca6..ad1a3c25 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -43,11 +43,13 @@ jobs:
           echo "version=$VERSION" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
       - name: Create github release and git tag for release
         id: create_release
-        # see https://github.com/actions/create-release
-        uses: actions/create-release@v1
+        run: >
+          gh release create
+          --generate-notes
+          --title "$release_name"
+          "$tag_name"
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-        with:
           release_name: ${{ steps.set_version.outputs.version }}
           tag_name: v${{ steps.set_version.outputs.version }}
           draft: false
diff --git a/semver.txt b/semver.txt
index 444877d4..2cf00d39 100644
--- a/semver.txt
+++ b/semver.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5.3
+3.5.4-alpha1