diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-links.yml b/.github/workflows/check-links.yml
index f71bd965b16..9152e260b77 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check-links.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-links.yml
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ jobs:
           --exclude "^https://github.com/GenericMappingTools/gmt/releases/tag/X.Y.Z$"
           --exclude "^https://github.com/GenericMappingTools/pygmt/edit"
           --exclude "^https://github.com/GenericMappingTools/pygmt/issues/new"
-          --exclude '^https://github.com/GenericMappingTools/pygmt/releases/tag/??path??$'
-          --exclude "^https://www.pygmt.org/??path??$"
+          --exclude "^https://github.com/GenericMappingTools/pygmt/releases/tag/\{\{path\}\}$"
+          --exclude "^https://www.pygmt.org/\{\{path\}\}$"
           --exclude "^git"
           --exclude "^file://"
           --exclude "^https://www.adobe.com/jp/print/postscript/pdfs/PLRM.pdf"