diff --git a/release/README.md b/release/README.md
index 44077638..6ddda515 100644
--- a/release/README.md
+++ b/release/README.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Merging into `master` never publishes a production image.
    `release/release.conf`.
 4. Add a matching `## [X.Y.Z]` section to `CHANGELOG.md`.
 5. Open `Release vX.Y.Z` targeting `release`.
-6. Merge the PR after its checks pass.
+6. Use a regular merge commit after the PR checks pass.
 
 The resulting push to `release` publishes the production image and creates the
 draft GitHub release. After publication succeeds, automation opens a
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ created. Later commits to `master` are left for the next release.
 2. Apply the fix.
 3. Update `release/release.conf` and `CHANGELOG.md` as described above.
 4. Open `Hotfix vX.Y.Z` targeting `release`.
-5. Merge the PR after its checks pass.
+5. Use a regular merge commit after the PR checks pass.
 
 This publishes the previous production code plus the hotfix, without including
 unreleased work from `master`. The automated backmerge carries the fix and
diff --git a/release/create-backmerge-pr.sh b/release/create-backmerge-pr.sh
index b0d42671..d159946f 100755
--- a/release/create-backmerge-pr.sh
+++ b/release/create-backmerge-pr.sh
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ EXISTING_PR_URL="$(
         --base master \
         --head release \
         --state open \
-        --json url \
-        --jq '.[0].url // empty'
+        --json url,isCrossRepository \
+        --jq 'map(select(.isCrossRepository == false)) | .[0].url // empty'
 )"
 
 if [ -n "$EXISTING_PR_URL" ]; then
diff --git a/release/validate-release-pr.sh b/release/validate-release-pr.sh
index fe11a869..ccc80a03 100755
--- a/release/validate-release-pr.sh
+++ b/release/validate-release-pr.sh
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ if [ "$TITLE_VERSION" != "$CAPROVER_VERSION" ]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
-if ! grep --extended-regexp --quiet "^## \[$CAPROVER_VERSION\]( |$)" CHANGELOG.md; then
+ESCAPED_CAPROVER_VERSION="${CAPROVER_VERSION//./\\.}"
+if ! grep --extended-regexp --quiet "^## \[$ESCAPED_CAPROVER_VERSION\]( |$)" CHANGELOG.md; then
     echo "CHANGELOG.md is missing the heading ## [$CAPROVER_VERSION]." >&2
     exit 1
 fi
diff --git a/release/verify-release-commit.sh b/release/verify-release-commit.sh
index 3aa8ad38..0cadc270 100755
--- a/release/verify-release-commit.sh
+++ b/release/verify-release-commit.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ for attempt in 1 2 3; do
         gh api \
             -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
             "/repos/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY/commits/$GITHUB_SHA/pulls" \
-            --jq '.[] | select(.merged_at != null and .base.ref == "release") | [.title, .head.ref, .head.repo.full_name, .base.sha] | @tsv'
+            --jq ".[] | select(.merged_at != null and .base.ref == \"release\" and .merge_commit_sha == \"$GITHUB_SHA\") | [.title, .head.ref, .head.repo.full_name] | @tsv"
     )
 
     if [ "${#MATCHING_PRS[@]}" -gt 0 ]; then
@@ -32,7 +32,15 @@ if [ "${#MATCHING_PRS[@]}" -ne 1 ]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
-IFS=$'\t' read -r PR_TITLE PR_HEAD_REF PR_HEAD_REPOSITORY PR_BASE_SHA <<< "${MATCHING_PRS[0]}"
+IFS=$'\t' read -r PR_TITLE PR_HEAD_REF PR_HEAD_REPOSITORY <<< "${MATCHING_PRS[0]}"
+
+read -r -a COMMIT_AND_PARENTS <<< "$(git rev-list --parents --max-count=1 "$GITHUB_SHA")"
+if [ "${#COMMIT_AND_PARENTS[@]}" -ne 3 ]; then
+    echo "Release PRs must use a regular merge commit." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+PR_BASE_SHA="${COMMIT_AND_PARENTS[1]}"
 
 export PR_TITLE PR_HEAD_REF PR_HEAD_REPOSITORY PR_BASE_SHA
 export REPOSITORY="$GITHUB_REPOSITORY"