diff --git a/.releases/v0.9.7-rc1.yml b/.releases/v0.9.7-rc1.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f37db344
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.releases/v0.9.7-rc1.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+commit: "cd5b788f27f92335f9373ea1c43356dcd72aa0f8"
+reason: "This is a release candidate to test out the updated Commit-Boost release process"