diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES.md b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
index 5759b335c1..adb7d71631 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ This file contains a high-level description of this package's evolution. Release
 > Parallel operation using `mpich 4.2.0` (the default on `Ubuntu 24.04`) results in 'unexpected results' when running `nc_test4/run_par_test.sh`.  This can be fixed by removing `mpich` and associated libraries and development packages and installing `mpich 4.2.2` by hand, or by using `openmpi` provided via `apt`.
 
 ## Release Notes
+DO NOT MERGE
 
 ### Release Candidate 2 - December 6, 2024