diff --git a/scripts/releaser/release.go b/scripts/releaser/release.go
index 8c63ff7c46..9d9723c7c3 100644
--- a/scripts/releaser/release.go
+++ b/scripts/releaser/release.go
@@ -536,6 +536,28 @@ func runRelease(ctx context.Context, inv *serpent.Invocation, executor ReleaseEx
 	}
 	fmt.Fprintln(w)
 
+	// --- Adjust changelog base for initial releases ---
+	// When the new version is a .0 release (e.g. v2.33.0) and
+	// prevVersion is an RC (e.g. v2.33.0-rc.3), the release
+	// notes should show all changes since the last stable
+	// release in the previous minor series (e.g. v2.32.X),
+	// not just the delta from the last RC.
+	if !onMain && newVersion.Patch == 0 && !newVersion.IsRC() && prevVersion != nil && prevVersion.IsRC() {
+		var lastStable *version
+		for _, t := range allTags {
+			if t.Pre == "" && t.Major == newVersion.Major && t.Minor < newVersion.Minor {
+				lastStable = &t
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if lastStable != nil {
+			infof(w, "Changelog base: %s (last stable release before %s series).", lastStable, newVersion)
+			prevVersion = lastStable
+		} else {
+			warnf(w, "No previous stable release found; changelog will diff from RC %s.", prevVersion)
+		}
+	}
+
 	// --- Generate release notes ---
 	infof(w, "Generating release notes...")