diff --git a/lib/release-ops.js b/lib/release-ops.js
index 470b29f..247cd62 100644
--- a/lib/release-ops.js
+++ b/lib/release-ops.js
@@ -349,10 +349,12 @@ function writeChangelog(releaseInfo) {
     const now = new Date(),
         today = dateformat(now, "mmmm d, yyyy");
 
+    releaseInfo.markdownChangelog = `v${releaseInfo.version} - ${today}\n\n${releaseInfo.rawChangelog}\n\n`;
+
     // output header and changelog
     fs.writeFileSync(
         "CHANGELOG.tmp",
-        `v${releaseInfo.version} - ${today}\n\n${releaseInfo.rawChangelog}\n\n`
+        releaseInfo.markdownChangelog
     );
 
     // ensure there's a CHANGELOG.md file