diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index ddd79650..441774d2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -25,13 +25,19 @@ jobs:
     env:
       LD_RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ inputs.releaseVersion }}
       DRY_RUN: ${{ inputs.dryRun || 'false' }}
-      CHANGELOG_ENTRY: ${{ inputs.changeLog }}
+      CHANGELOG_ENTRY: ${{ toJSON(inputs.changeLog) }}
       GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       ARTIFACT_DIRECTORY: "/tmp/release-artifacts"
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
+      - name: Install jq
+        run: |
+          if ! command -v jq >/dev/null; then
+            sudo apt-get update
+            sudo apt-get install -y jq
+          fi
       - name: get secrets
         uses: launchdarkly/gh-actions/actions/release-secrets@release-secrets-v1.2.0
         with:
@@ -70,5 +76,5 @@ jobs:
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           tag: v${{ inputs.releaseVersion }}
-          body: ${{ inputs.changeLog }}
+          body: ${{ fromJSON(toJSON(inputs.changeLog)) }}
           artifacts: ${{ env.ARTIFACT_DIRECTORY }}/*
diff --git a/scripts/release/commit-and-tag.sh b/scripts/release/commit-and-tag.sh
index 277d0fca..41045576 100755
--- a/scripts/release/commit-and-tag.sh
+++ b/scripts/release/commit-and-tag.sh
@@ -2,16 +2,17 @@
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
-RELEASE_TAG="v${LD_RELEASE_VERSION}"
+release_tag="v${LD_RELEASE_VERSION}"
 
 tag_exists() (
   git fetch --tags
-  git rev-parse "${RELEASE_TAG}" >/dev/null 2>&1
+  git rev-parse "${release_tag}" >/dev/null 2>&1
 )
 
 update_changelog() (
   local ts=$(date +"%Y-%m-%d")
-  local changelog_entry=$(printf "## [%s] - %s\n%s\n" "$LD_RELEASE_VERSION" "$ts" "$CHANGELOG_ENTRY")
+  local changelog_json=$(echo "$CHANGELOG_ENTRY" | jq =r .)
+  local changelog_entry=$(printf "## [%s] - %s\n%s\n" "$LD_RELEASE_VERSION" "$ts" "$changelog_json")
 
   # insert the new changelog entry (followed by empty line) after line 4
   # of CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,19 +20,16 @@ update_changelog() (
 )
 
 release_summary() (
-  echo
-  echo "Changes staged for release $RELEASE_TAG:"
+  echo "Changes staged for release $release_tag:"
   git diff
 
-  echo
   echo "Updated CHANGELOG:"
   cat CHANGELOG.md
-  echo
 )
 
 commit_and_tag() (
   if tag_exists; then
-    echo "Tag $RELEASE_TAG already exists. Aborting."
+    echo "Tag $release_tag already exists. Aborting."
     exit 1
   fi
 
@@ -41,10 +39,10 @@ commit_and_tag() (
   git config user.name "LaunchDarklyReleaseBot"
   git config user.email "releasebot@launchdarkly.com"
   git add .
-  git commit -m "Prepare release ${RELEASE_TAG}"
-  git tag "${RELEASE_TAG}"
+  git commit -m "Prepare release ${release_tag}"
+  git tag "${release_tag}"
   git push origin HEAD
-  git push origin "${RELEASE_TAG}"
+  git push origin "${release_tag}"
 )
 
 if [[ "$DRY_RUN" == "true" ]]; then