diff --git a/ci/release/Jenkinsfile b/ci/release/Jenkinsfile
index 5c40b71ca2..339869e4dc 100644
--- a/ci/release/Jenkinsfile
+++ b/ci/release/Jenkinsfile
@@ -159,13 +159,7 @@ pipeline {
                     if ( notesFiles.length > 1 ) {
                         throw new IllegalStateException( "Located more than 1 `release_notes.md`" )
                     }
-
-                    def notesFile = notesFiles[0]
-                    if ( !notesFile.exists ) {
-                        throw new IllegalStateException( "File `release_notes.md` does not exist" )
-                    }
-
-                    env.SCRIPT_OPTIONS = " --notes=${notesFile.absolutePath}"
+                    env.SCRIPT_OPTIONS = " --notes=${notesFiles[0].path}"
 
 					if ( params.RELEASE_DRY_RUN ) {
 					    env.SCRIPT_OPTIONS += " -d"