diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bb6afdf..f55cfa4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/)
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## Fixed
+
+-   `east release` command wrongly aborted, if a board from `east.yml` wasn't found 
+    in project's board directory. That was wrong, since the board might be located
+    either in Zephyr, NCS or some other Zephyr module.
+
 ## [0.21.0] - 2024-08-16
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/src/east/helper_functions.py b/src/east/helper_functions.py
index a7dccad..edde7ea 100644
--- a/src/east/helper_functions.py
+++ b/src/east/helper_functions.py
@@ -284,7 +284,8 @@ def find_all_boards(east, west_board: str) -> List[str]:
     board_dir = find_board_dir(east, west_board)
 
     if not board_dir:
-        east.exit(f"Board {west_board} not found in the boards directory.")
+        # Just return the original name, since the board might come from Zephyr or NCS.
+        return [west_board]
 
     files = os.listdir(board_dir)