diff --git a/.github/actions/prepare-telegram-release-message/prepare.py b/.github/actions/prepare-telegram-release-message/prepare.py
index 36352b1..3963d1d 100644
--- a/.github/actions/prepare-telegram-release-message/prepare.py
+++ b/.github/actions/prepare-telegram-release-message/prepare.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def release_description(value, tag="", limit=RELEASE_DESCRIPTION_LIMIT):
             continue
 
         escaped = escape_markdown(line)
-        lines.append(f"*{escaped}*" if heading else f"• {escaped}")
+        lines.append(f"_{escaped}_" if heading else f"• {escaped}")
 
     return truncate("\n".join(lines), limit)
 
diff --git a/test/test_telegram_notifications.py b/test/test_telegram_notifications.py
index 339a0ec..278a266 100644
--- a/test/test_telegram_notifications.py
+++ b/test/test_telegram_notifications.py
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ def test_formats_release_please_description_as_compact_list(self):
 
         self.assertTrue(
             message.endswith(
-                "octocat\n*Features*\n"
+                "octocat\n_Features_\n"
                 "• add Telegram release notifications \\(\\#171\\) \\(8d9e8c0\\)\n"
                 "• Deploy: mainframe updated"
             )