diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index d42fda9..db31d21 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
         env:
           REF: ${{ github.ref }}
         run: |
-          echo branch_exists=$(git ls-remote --heads origin refs/heads/release/${REF:10} | wc -l) >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "branch_exists=$(git ls-remote --heads origin refs/heads/release/${REF:10} | wc -l)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
   release:
     runs-on: ubuntu-20.04