diff --git a/.github/workflows/lock-release.yml b/.github/workflows/lock-release.yml
index 8b02e74b97b..8b3b9444868 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lock-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lock-release.yml
@@ -82,9 +82,10 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           PR_NUMBERS=$(gh pr list -L 100 -R primer/react --state open --json number,baseRefName,autoMergeRequest,reviewDecision -q '.[] | select(.autoMergeRequest != null) | select(.baseRefName == "main") | select(.reviewDecision == "APPROVED") | .number')
           if [ -n "$PR_NUMBERS" ]; then
-            echo "Updating $PR_NUMBERS"
+            echo "Re-enabling auto-merge on $PR_NUMBERS"
             for pr in $PR_NUMBERS; do
-              gh pr update-branch -R primer/react "$pr" || echo "Warning: failed to update PR #$pr (likely has conflicts)"
+              gh pr merge "$pr" -R primer/react --disable-auto || echo "Warning: failed to disable auto-merge on PR #$pr"
+              gh pr merge "$pr" -R primer/react --auto --squash || echo "Warning: failed to enable auto-merge on PR #$pr"
             done
           else
             echo "No PRs to update."