diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES.md b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
index e69de29bb..722131711 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+## Validator Changes
+
+* fix inclusion of Java constants in CLI help text.
+
+## Other code changes
+
+n/a