diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/auto.test.ts b/packages/core/src/__tests__/auto.test.ts
index 5c1a19b60a..0fd28aed19 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/auto.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/auto.test.ts
@@ -959,6 +959,35 @@ describe("Auto", () => {
       );
     });
 
+
+    test("should use --to commit target", async () => {
+      const auto = new Auto({ ...defaults, plugins: [] });
+      auto.logger = dummyLog();
+      await auto.loadConfig();
+      auto.git!.getLatestRelease = () => Promise.resolve("1.2.3");
+
+      jest.spyOn(auto.git!, "publish").mockReturnValueOnce({ data: {} } as any);
+      jest
+        .spyOn(auto.release!, "generateReleaseNotes")
+        .mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve("releaseNotes"));
+      auto.release!.getCommitsInRelease = () =>
+        Promise.resolve([makeCommitFromMsg("Test Commit")]);
+
+      auto.hooks.getPreviousVersion.tap("test", () => "1.2.4");
+      const afterRelease = jest.fn();
+      auto.hooks.afterRelease.tap("test", afterRelease);
+      jest.spyOn(auto.release!, "getCommits").mockImplementation();
+
+      await auto.runRelease({ to: 'abc'});
+
+      expect(auto.git!.publish).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        "releaseNotes",
+        "v1.2.4",
+        false,
+        "abc"
+      );
+    });
+
     test("should publish to a tag", async () => {
       const auto = new Auto({ ...defaults, plugins: [] });
       auto.logger = dummyLog();