diff --git a/synthtool/gcp/templates/java_library/.github/workflows/auto-release.yaml b/synthtool/gcp/templates/java_library/.github/workflows/auto-release.yaml
index 7476e103f..8d77467c8 100644
--- a/synthtool/gcp/templates/java_library/.github/workflows/auto-release.yaml
+++ b/synthtool/gcp/templates/java_library/.github/workflows/auto-release.yaml
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ jobs:
             return;
           }
 
-          // only approve PRs like "chore(master): release <release version>"
-          if ( !context.payload.pull_request.title.startsWith("chore(master): release") ) {
+          // only approve PRs like "chore: release <release version>"
+          if ( !context.payload.pull_request.title.startsWith("chore: release") ) {
             return;
           }