diff --git a/.github/workflows/_release.yml b/.github/workflows/_release.yml
index 9c348b246f5d0..a410217dad6f6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/_release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/_release.yml
@@ -107,7 +107,8 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
           # confirm prev-tag actually exists in git repo with git tag
-          if [ -z git tag -l "$PREV_TAG" ]; then
+          GIT_TAG_RESULT=$(git tag -l "$PREV_TAG")
+          if [ -z "$GIT_TAG_RESULT" ]; then
             echo "Previous tag $PREV_TAG not found in git repo"
             exit 1
           fi