diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-please.yml b/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
index 52a640c..0acb3ef 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: googleapis/release-please-action@v4
         with:
+          # this assumes that you have created a personal access token
+          # (PAT) and configured it as a GitHub action secret named
+          # `MY_RELEASE_PLEASE_TOKEN` (this secret name is not important).
+          token: ${{ secrets.PAT }}
           # this is a built-in strategy in release-please, see "Action Inputs"
           # for more options
           release-type: simple