diff --git a/.github/workflows/snapshot-release.yml b/.github/workflows/snapshot-release.yml
index c06d2e56..e3154ce1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/snapshot-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/snapshot-release.yml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ jobs:
     if: |
       github.repository == 'apollographql/apollo-client-nextjs' &&
       (
-        github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' || 
+        github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' ||
         (
           github.event.issue.pull_request &&
           (
@@ -33,6 +33,38 @@ jobs:
         if: github.event_name == 'issue_comment'
         id: comment-branch
 
+      - name: Get sha
+        if: github.event_name == 'issue_comment'
+        id: parse-sha
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          if [ "${{ steps.comment-branch.outputs.head_owner }}" == "apollographql" ]; then
+            echo "sha=${{ steps.comment-branch.outputs.head_sha }}" >> "${GITHUB_OUTPUT}"
+          else
+            sha_from_comment="$(echo $COMMENT_BODY | tr -s ' ' | cut -d ' ' -f2)"
+
+            if [ $sha_from_comment == "/release:pr" ]; then
+              exit 1
+            else
+              echo "sha=$sha_from_comment" >> "${GITHUB_OUTPUT}"
+            fi
+          fi
+        env:
+          COMMENT_BODY: ${{ github.event.comment.body }}
+
+      - name: Comment sha reminder
+        if: steps.parse-sha.outcome == 'failure'
+        uses: peter-evans/create-or-update-comment@v2.1.0
+        with:
+          issue-number: ${{ github.event.issue.number }}
+          body: |
+            Did you forget to add the sha? Please use `/release:pr <sha>`
+
+      - name: Fail job
+        if: steps.parse-sha.outcome == 'failure'
+        run: |
+          exit 1
+
       - name: Checkout head ref (comment trigger)
         if: github.event_name == 'issue_comment'
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -40,7 +72,7 @@ jobs:
           ## specify the owner + repository in order to checkout the fork
           ## for community PRs
           repository: ${{ steps.comment-branch.outputs.head_owner }}/${{ steps.comment-branch.outputs.head_repo }}
-          ref: ${{ steps.comment-branch.outputs.head_ref }}
+          ref: ${{ steps.parse-sha.outputs.sha }}
           fetch-depth: 0
 
       - name: Checkout head ref (dispatch trigger)