diff --git a/docs/release.md b/docs/release.md
index 5c649dd..1a9a83e 100644
--- a/docs/release.md
+++ b/docs/release.md
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ already published through the normal branch workflow.
 From the Promptkit repository root, verify the checkout:
 
 ```sh
-test -z "$(go env GOWORK)"
+gowork=$(go env GOWORK)
+test -z "$gowork" || test "$gowork" = off
 test -z "$(git status --short)"
 git fetch --tags origin
 ```