diff --git a/.release-it.json b/.release-it.json
index 64724e33..86dc59ae 100644
--- a/.release-it.json
+++ b/.release-it.json
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     "after:init": ["npm run lint", "npx knip", "npm test"]
   },
   "github": {
+    "tokenRef": "GITHUB_TOKEN_RELEASE_IT",
     "release": true,
     "comments": {
       "submit": true