diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index d47d2c6..f9c575e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 # Creates a draft GitHub release when azure-cli.version changes.
 # vars.RELEASE=PRERELEASE (default) → tag/title {version}-preview, draft --prerelease.
 # vars.RELEASE=STABLE → tag/title {version}, draft (not a prerelease). Never edits an existing preview.
-# Org webhook publishes drafts.
+# Org webhook publishes drafts. Always append <!-- !X --> and <!-- nosponsors -->
+# so SponsorLink does not post to X or inject a sponsors section: the notes are
+# Upstream Azure CLI notes, not ours. <!-- X --> is the opposite (force-announce)
+# and must not appear.
 name: release
 on:
   push:
@@ -43,7 +46,8 @@ jobs:
             printf '%s\n' "$BODY"
             echo ""
             echo "https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli/releases/tag/azure-cli-$VERSION"
-            echo "<!-- X -->"
+            echo "<!-- !X -->"
+            echo "<!-- nosponsors -->"
           } > release-notes.md
 
           if gh release view "$TAG" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
diff --git a/docs/adr/0004-releases-skip-x-announcements.md b/docs/adr/0004-releases-skip-x-announcements.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af26855
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/adr/0004-releases-skip-x-announcements.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Releases skip SponsorLink announcements and sponsor injection
+
+Draft notes copy the Upstream Azure CLI release body. SponsorLink's org webhook posts a published release to X unless the body contains `<!-- !X -->`, and injects a sponsors section unless it contains `<!-- nosponsors -->`. We always append both: the notes are Azure's work, not ours. `<!-- X -->` is the opposite (force-announce) and must not appear.
diff --git a/src/Tests/ReleaseTests.cs b/src/Tests/ReleaseTests.cs
index 73c44a2..84c8198 100644
--- a/src/Tests/ReleaseTests.cs
+++ b/src/Tests/ReleaseTests.cs
@@ -16,6 +16,15 @@ public void Non_stable_release_is_named_version_preview_not_an_edit()
         Assert.DoesNotContain("--prerelease=false", release);
     }
 
+    [Fact]
+    public void Draft_notes_opt_out_of_sponsorlink_side_effects()
+    {
+        var release = File.ReadAllText(Path.Combine(FindRepoRoot(), ".github", "workflows", "release.yml"));
+        Assert.Contains("echo \"<!-- !X -->\"", release);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("echo \"<!-- X -->\"", release);
+        Assert.Contains("echo \"<!-- nosponsors -->\"", release);
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     public void Publish_version_does_not_double_append_preview()
     {