diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index f62bb1d118d76c..4b37b8325063ef 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ Contributors guide: https://github.com/nodejs/node/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md
 - [ ] `make -j4 test` (UNIX), or `vcbuild test` (Windows) passes
 - [ ] tests and/or benchmarks are included
 - [ ] documentation is changed or added
-- [ ] commit message follows commit guidelines
+- [ ] commit message follows [commit guidelines][]
 
 ##### Affected core subsystem(s)
 <!-- Provide affected core subsystem(s) (like doc, cluster, crypto, etc). -->
+
+[commit guidelines]: https://github.com/nodejs/node/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md#commit-guidelines
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 290cad8faaeb7a..923fb0299046fb 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ $ git add my/changed/files
 $ git commit
 ```
 
+### Commit guidelines
+
 Writing good commit logs is important. A commit log should describe what
 changed and why. Follow these guidelines when writing one: