diff --git a/.kokoro/release.sh b/.kokoro/release.sh
index ac5246229d..cfe996516f 100755
--- a/.kokoro/release.sh
+++ b/.kokoro/release.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 # Set this to a nonempty string to freeze releases.
-FREEZE_RELEASES=
+FREEZE_RELEASES=true
 
 set -eo pipefail