diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-cmor-tables.yaml b/.github/workflows/update-cmor-tables.yaml
index b97408d..a13e105 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update-cmor-tables.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-cmor-tables.yaml
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ jobs:
         cd tables
         git diff --quiet . || echo "changed=true" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
+    - name: Get commit message
+      id: commit_message
+      run: echo "msg=$(git log -1 --pretty=%s)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+
     - name: Commit and push
       if: steps.verify_diff.outputs.changed == 'true'
       run: |
@@ -53,6 +57,6 @@ jobs:
         git config --local user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
         git config --local user.name "github-actions[bot]"
         (pre-commit run --all-files) || true
-        git commit Tables/*.json -m "update cmor tables from data request repository"
+        git commit Tables/*.json -m "cmor table update: ${{ steps.commit_message.outputs.msg }}"
         git status
         git push