diff --git a/.github/workflows/draft-new-release.yml b/.github/workflows/draft-new-release.yml
index 6d3eb02..5ceca15 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/draft-new-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/draft-new-release.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ jobs:
   draft-new-release:
     name: "Draft a new release"
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: startsWith(github.event.issue.title, 'Release version') && contains(github.event.issue.labels.*.name, 'release') # only run for issues with a specific title and label
+    # Only run for issues with a specific title and label. Not strictly required but makes finding the release issue again later easier.
+    if: startsWith(github.event.issue.title, 'Release version') && contains(github.event.issue.labels.*.name, 'release')
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v2
 
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ jobs:
           # We are claiming things here based on the `publish-new-release.yml` workflow.
           # You should obviously adopt it to say the truth depending on your release workflow :)
           body: |
-            Hi ${{ github.event.issue.user.login }}!
+            Hi @${{ github.event.issue.user.login }}!
 
             This PR was created in response to this release issue: #${{ github.event.issue.number }}.
             I've updated the changelog and bumped the versions in the manifest files in this commit: ${{ steps.make-commit.outputs.commit }}.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-new-release.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-new-release.yml
index 2ef95db..ae48aea 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-new-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-new-release.yml
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@ jobs:
       # Hence, we close it here "manually"
       - name: Close release issue
         run: |
-
-          RELEASE_ISSUE_URL=$(curl https://api.github.com/repos/${{ github.repository }}/issues?labels=release&state=open | jq -r '.[1].url')
+          RELEASE_ISSUE_URL=$(curl https://api.github.com/repos/${{ github.repository }}/issues\?labels=release\&state=open | jq -r '.[0].url')
 
           curl \
             -X PATCH \