diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-replica-version.yml b/.github/workflows/update-replica-version.yml
index 6e276d4aa5..0f06beabd2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update-replica-version.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-replica-version.yml
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: create Pull Request, with CHANGELOG.adoc entry suggestion 
       uses: actions/github-script@v6
       with:
+        github-token: ${{ secrets.NIV_UPDATER_TOKEN }} # act on behalf of https://github.com/dfinity-bot 
         script: |
           const { repo, owner } = context.repo;