diff --git a/docs/release.md b/docs/release.md
index 9dad7bc1bb..bf84325d55 100644
--- a/docs/release.md
+++ b/docs/release.md
@@ -186,33 +186,35 @@ this means that any commit which goes to `staging` will eventually make its way
 Shortly after concluding the preparation stage (or pushing any changes to `staging` in general);
 a draft release will be automatically made on the 4 project repositories with suggested changelogs and version numbers.
 
-Review the draft releases created, check the version number makes sense and that the changelog contains everything you'd expect to.
-
 _Note: we should add a step here to write summaries atop the changelogs manually, or via AI_
 
+Publishing the SDKs to npm also commits a dependency upgrade to the relevant downstream projects,
+if you skip a layer of this release (e.g. for a hotfix) then the dependency will remain on `#develop` which will be
+switched back to the version of the dependency from the master branch to not leak develop code into a release.
+
 ### Matrix JS SDK
 
-The first stop is the matrix-js-sdk; kick off a release using [the automation](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk/actions/workflows/release.yml) - making sure to select the right type of release. For anything other than an RC: choose final. You should not need to ever switch off either of the Publishing options.
-
--   [ ] matrix-js-sdk has been released & published to npm
+-   [ ] Check the draft release which has been generated by [the automation](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk/actions/workflows/release-drafter.yml)
+-   [ ] Make any changes to the release notes in the draft release as are necessary - **Do not click publish, only save draft**
+-   [ ] Kick off a release using [the automation](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk/actions/workflows/release.yml) - making sure to select the right type of release. For anything other than an RC: choose final. You should not need to ever switch off either of the Publishing options.
 
 ### Matrix React SDK
 
-The next stop is matrix-react-sdk; kick off a release using [the automation](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk/actions/workflows/release.yml) - making sure to select the right type of release. For anything other than an RC: choose final. In the JS SDK version field enter the version of the JS SDK you wish to use, for typical releases including all the layers this would be the version released in the stage above.
-
--   [ ] matrix-react-sdk has been released & published to npm
+-   [ ] Check the draft release which has been generated by [the automation](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk/actions/workflows/release-drafter.yml)
+-   [ ] Make any changes to the release notes in the draft release as are necessary - **Do not click publish, only save draft**
+-   [ ] Kick off a release using [the automation](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk/actions/workflows/release.yml) - making sure to select the right type of release. For anything other than an RC: choose final. You should not need to ever switch off either of the Publishing options.
 
 ### Element Web
 
-The next stop is element-web; kick off a release using [the automation](https://github.com/element-hq/element-web/actions/workflows/release.yml) - making sure to select the right type of release. For anything other than an RC: choose final. In the SDK version fields enter the versions you wish to use, for typical releases including all the layers this would be the versions released in the stages above.
-
--   [ ] Element Web has been released
+-   [ ] Check the draft release which has been generated by [the automation](https://github.com/element-hq/element-web/actions/workflows/release-drafter.yml)
+-   [ ] Make any changes to the release notes in the draft release as are necessary - **Do not click publish, only save draft**
+-   [ ] Kick off a release using [the automation](https://github.com/element-hq/element-web/actions/workflows/release.yml) - making sure to select the right type of release. For anything other than an RC: choose final. You should not need to ever switch off either of the Publishing options.
 
 ### Element Desktop
 
-The next stop is element-desktop; kick off a release using [the automation](https://github.com/element-hq/element-desktop/actions/workflows/release.yml) - making sure to select the right type of release. For anything other than an RC: choose final. In the JS SDK version field enter the version of the JS SDK you wish to use, for typical releases including all the layers this would be the version released in the stage above.
-
--   [ ] Element Desktop has been released
+-   [ ] Check the draft release which has been generated by [the automation](https://github.com/element-hq/element-desktop/actions/workflows/release-drafter.yml)
+-   [ ] Make any changes to the release notes in the draft release as are necessary - **Do not click publish, only save draft**
+-   [ ] Kick off a release using [the automation](https://github.com/element-hq/element-desktop/actions/workflows/release.yml) - making sure to select the right type of release. For anything other than an RC: choose final. You should not need to ever switch off either of the Publishing options.
 
 # Deploying