diff --git a/.github/release-drafter.yml b/.github/release-drafter.yml
index d5225cd760..208d665778 100644
--- a/.github/release-drafter.yml
+++ b/.github/release-drafter.yml
@@ -43,5 +43,5 @@ exclude-contributors:
   - 'eksctl-bot'
   - 'dependabot'
 replacers:
-  - search: '/(?:and )?@dependabot(?:\[bot\])?,?/g'
+  - search: '/\s(?:and )?@dependabot(?:\[bot\])?,?/g'
     replace: ''
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-drafter.yaml b/.github/workflows/release-drafter.yaml
index 8ec5f8fe90..04d4d415df 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-drafter.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-drafter.yaml
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Upsert pull request
         uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@b1ddad2c994a25fbc81a28b3ec0e368bb2021c50 #v6.0.0
         with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.EKSCTLBOT_TOKEN }}
           commit-message: Add release notes for ${{ steps.draft.outputs.tag_name }}
           committer: eksctl-bot <eksctl-bot@users.noreply.github.com>
           body: |