diff --git a/packages/nx/src/command-line/release/changelog.ts b/packages/nx/src/command-line/release/changelog.ts
index a8f338cdf2..4feadf44e9 100644
--- a/packages/nx/src/command-line/release/changelog.ts
+++ b/packages/nx/src/command-line/release/changelog.ts
@@ -334,8 +334,14 @@ async function applyChangesAndExit(
   let latestCommit = toSHA;
 
   const changes = tree.listChanges();
-  // This could happen we using conventional commits, for example
-  if (!changes.length) {
+
+  /**
+   * In the case where we are expecting changelog file updates, but there is nothing
+   * to flush from the tree, we exit early. This could happen we using conventional
+   * commits, for example.
+   */
+  const changelogFilesEnabled = checkChangelogFilesEnabled(nxReleaseConfig);
+  if (changelogFilesEnabled && !changes.length) {
     output.warn({
       title: `No changes detected for changelogs`,
       bodyLines: [
@@ -897,3 +903,18 @@ async function generateChangelogForProjects(
     printSummary();
   }
 }
+
+function checkChangelogFilesEnabled(nxReleaseConfig: NxReleaseConfig): boolean {
+  if (
+    nxReleaseConfig.changelog.workspaceChangelog &&
+    nxReleaseConfig.changelog.workspaceChangelog.file
+  ) {
+    return true;
+  }
+  for (const releaseGroup of Object.values(nxReleaseConfig.groups)) {
+    if (releaseGroup.changelog && releaseGroup.changelog.file) {
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+  return false;
+}