diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-release-and-upload-assets.yml b/.github/workflows/create-release-and-upload-assets.yml
index e93afe82..58e6463a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create-release-and-upload-assets.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create-release-and-upload-assets.yml
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "upload_url=${upload_url}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - name: Build deb packages
         env:
+          EMAIL: furlongm@gmail.com
           COMMIT_MSG: |
             auto-commit
             skip-checks: true
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "${version}" > VERSION.txt
           git add VERSION.txt
           git diff --quiet && git diff --staged --quiet || git commit -m "${COMMIT_MSG}"
-          gbp dch --new-version=${version}-1 --release --distribution=stable --spawn-editor=never --commit --commit-msg="${COMMIT_MSG}" --git-author
+          gbp dch --new-version=${version}-1 --release --distribution=stable --spawn-editor=never --commit --commit-msg="${COMMIT_MSG}"
           git tag --delete v${version}
           git tag v${version}
           gbp buildpackage --git-upstream-tree=${{ github.ref }} -uc -us