diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 5a4731871..9edcac0e0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -330,9 +330,7 @@ jobs:
 
   release:
     needs: tests
-    if: >
-      github.ref == 'refs/heads/develop'
-      && needs.tests.outputs.release
+    if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/develop' && needs.tests.outputs.release == 'true'
     uses: AgnostiqHQ/covalent/.github/workflows/release.yml@develop
     secrets: inherit
     with:
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f6814a74f..7d0e3930b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 - Remove migration guide reference from README
 
+### Operations
+
+- Explicitly check `release == true` in tests.yml
+
 ## [0.160.0] - 2022-08-02
 
 ### Authors