diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-lambda.yml b/.github/workflows/release-lambda.yml
index fa24d648a..4b9b0c388 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-lambda.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-lambda.yml
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Set up regions matrix
         id: set-matrix
+        env:
+          AWS_REGIONS: ${{ github.event.inputs.aws_region }}
         run: |
-          IFS=',' read -ra REGIONS <<< "${{ github.event.inputs.aws_region }}"
+          IFS=',' read -ra REGIONS <<< "$AWS_REGIONS"
           MATRIX="["
           for region in "${REGIONS[@]}"; do
             trimmed_region=$(echo "$region" | xargs)
@@ -190,8 +192,11 @@ jobs:
         id: commit
         run: echo "sha_short=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
       - name: Create Release Notes
+        env:
+          VERSION: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
+          SHA_SHORT: ${{ steps.commit.outputs.sha_short }}
         run: |
-          echo "AWS OpenTelemetry Lambda Layer for Python version ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}-${{ steps.commit.outputs.sha_short }}" > release_notes.md
+          echo "AWS OpenTelemetry Lambda Layer for Python version $VERSION-$SHA_SHORT" > release_notes.md
           echo "" >> release_notes.md
           echo "" >> release_notes.md
           echo "See new Lambda Layer ARNs:" >> release_notes.md
@@ -205,10 +210,10 @@ jobs:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }} # This token is provided by Actions, you do not need to create your own token
         run: |
           gh release create --target "$GITHUB_REF_NAME" \
-             --title "Release lambda-v${{ github.event.inputs.version }}-${{ steps.commit.outputs.sha_short }}" \
+             --title "Release lambda-v$VERSION-$SHA_SHORT" \
              --notes-file release_notes.md  \
              --draft \
-             "lambda-v${{ github.event.inputs.version }}-${{ steps.commit.outputs.sha_short }}" \
+             "lambda-v$VERSION-$SHA_SHORT" \
              layer_arns.tf layer.zip
           echo Removing release_notes.md ...
           rm -f release_notes.md