diff --git a/eng/pipelines/templates/stages/archetype-cpp-release.yml b/eng/pipelines/templates/stages/archetype-cpp-release.yml
index 092da714b..027a45b9d 100644
--- a/eng/pipelines/templates/stages/archetype-cpp-release.yml
+++ b/eng/pipelines/templates/stages/archetype-cpp-release.yml
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ stages:
                           SkipCheckingForChanges: true
                           BaseBranchName: $(DefaultBranch)
                           OpenAsDraft: ${{ parameters.TestPipeline }}
+                          PRLabels: "auto-merge"
                           CloseAfterOpenForTesting: '${{ parameters.TestPipeline }}'
 
           - ${{if ne(artifact.skipUpdatePackageVersion, 'true')}}: