diff --git a/.backportrc.json b/.backportrc.json
index f20034bca..32140b880 100644
--- a/.backportrc.json
+++ b/.backportrc.json
@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@
     { "name": "main", "checked": true },
     "8.x",
     "8.17",
-    "8.16",
-    "8.15"
+    "8.16"
   ],
   "fork": false,
   "targetPRLabels": ["backport"],
diff --git a/docs/RELEASING.md b/docs/RELEASING.md
index f7c3aa7fc..f4b048c43 100644
--- a/docs/RELEASING.md
+++ b/docs/RELEASING.md
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ Take care of the branching (minor releases only):
 
 - Increment the VERSION on main to match the next minor release
 - Create a new maintenance branch
-- Make sure the `.backportrc.json` is updated. The previous minor is added to `targetBranchChoices` and the new minor is used in `branchLabelMapping`
+- Make sure `.backportrc.json` is updated: the previous minor is added to `targetBranchChoices` and the new minor is used in `branchLabelMapping`
+- Make sure `renovate.json` is updated: the previous minor is added to `labels` (for example, `v8.18`). [Create that label](https://github.com/elastic/connectors/labels) if it doesn't exist yet
 
 
 ## Unified release, (>= 8.16)