diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 6352658a555..31154431ae4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ jobs:
             # not making a patch release
             if ! grep --quiet "^## Version ${STABLE_VERSION}/${UNSTABLE_VERSION} " CHANGELOG.md; then
               echo the pull request generated by prepare-release-branch.yml needs to be merged first
-              exit 1
             fi
             grep "^## Version ${STABLE_VERSION}/${UNSTABLE_VERSION} " CHANGELOG.md
             cat CHANGELOG.md