diff --git a/.github/workflows/formal.yml b/.github/workflows/formal.yml
index b3f824c524..1447a39599 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/formal.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/formal.yml
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ jobs:
             fi
 
             subject="$(git show -s --format=%s $commit)"
-            if echo "$subject" | grep -q -e '^[0-9A-Za-z,+/_-]\+: ' -e '^Revert '; then
+            if echo "$subject" | grep -q -e '^[0-9A-Za-z,+/_-]\+: ' -e '^Revert ' -e '^CONTRIBUTING.md' -e '^README.md'; then
               success "Commit subject line seems ok ($subject)"
             else
               err "Commit subject line MUST start with '<package name>: ' ($subject)"