diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index 43cc09422..916858151 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ env:
   GO_VERSION: "1.16.x"
 
 jobs:
-  wait-for-checks:
+  quality-gate:
+    environment: release
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest # This OS choice is arbitrary. None of the steps in this job are specific to either Linux or macOS.
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v2
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ jobs:
           false
 
   release:
-    needs: [wait-for-checks]
+    needs: [quality-gate]
     runs-on: macos-latest # Due to our code signing process, it's vital that we run our release steps on macOS.
     steps:
       - uses: docker-practice/actions-setup-docker@v1
diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
index 8f03c9627..86db99f62 100644
--- a/RELEASE.md
+++ b/RELEASE.md
@@ -89,11 +89,13 @@ This release process itself should be as automated as possible, and have only a
    milestone with a partial version, the full version should be used for the git tag (e.g.
    with a Milestone of `v0.1` the tag should be `v0.1.0`).
 
-1. Push the tag, the release pipeline will generate and publish all assets as well as a
-   draft GitHub Release.
+1. Push the tag.
+   
+1. A release admin must approve the release on the GitHub Actions release pipeline run page.
+   Once approved, the release pipeline will generate all assets and draft a GitHub Release.
 
-1. Promote the GitHub Release from draft to public. Note: since extra assets are made
-   available immediately from previous steps (i.e. the brew formula) the release should
-   only be in this state for a small amount of time (minutes).
+1. Navigate to the GitHub Release draft page to review the final changelog and publish the
+   release. Once published, a release-follow-up pipeline will publish derivative artifacts
+   (docker image to DockerHub, brew formula to the external homebrew git repo, etc).
 
 1. If there is a release Milestone, close it.