diff --git a/tools/release/generate_release_notes.rb b/tools/release/generate_release_notes.rb
index f2a6c1d12..e1d88198e 100755
--- a/tools/release/generate_release_notes.rb
+++ b/tools/release/generate_release_notes.rb
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ coming_tag_index = release_notes.find_index {|line| line.match(/^coming\[#{curre
 coming_tag_index += 1 if coming_tag_index
 release_notes_entry_index = coming_tag_index || release_notes.find_index {|line| line.match(/^\[\[logstash/) }
 
-report << "[[logstash-#{current_release_dashes}]]" unless release_notes.any? { |line| line.match(/^\[\[logstash-#{current_release_dashes}/) }
-report << "=== Logstash #{current_release} Release Notes\n" unless release_notes.any? { |line| line.match(/^=== Logstash #{current_release}/)}
+report << "[[logstash-#{current_release_dashes}]]" unless release_notes.any? { |line| line&.match(/^\[\[logstash-#{current_release_dashes}/) }
+report << "=== Logstash #{current_release} Release Notes\n" unless release_notes.any? { |line| line&.match(/^=== Logstash #{current_release}/)}
 
 plugin_changes = {}