diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/release.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/release.md
index ac098bd4f..064aa2513 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/release.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/release.md
@@ -21,4 +21,5 @@ _List of related issues, pull requests, external pages, etc_
 
 ## Before merge
 
+- [ ] I have updated `woocommerce/changelog.txt`
 - [ ] I have confirmed the final story is merged
diff --git a/.github/workflows/prep-release.yml b/.github/workflows/prep-release.yml
index 91f4e233e..88bc69edd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/prep-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/prep-release.yml
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Create pull request
         run: |
-          gh pr create -B "${BASE_BRANCH}" -H release/"${NEW_VERSION}" --title "Release v${NEW_VERSION}" --body "Release v${NEW_VERSION}" --draft
+          gh pr create -B "${BASE_BRANCH}" -H release/"${NEW_VERSION}" --title "Release v${NEW_VERSION}" --body-file ".github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/release.md" --draft
         env:
           BASE_BRANCH: ${{ github.ref_name }}
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}