diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/api-database-now-required-6245f39d36885d1c.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/api-database-now-required-6245f39d36885d1c.yaml
index 3218ece4984d..8322e3b901a7 100644
--- a/releasenotes/notes/api-database-now-required-6245f39d36885d1c.yaml
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/api-database-now-required-6245f39d36885d1c.yaml
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 prelude: >
     Nova now requires a separate API database and manual
     intervention is required during an upgrade to Mitaka.
+
 upgrade:
   - During an upgrade to Mitaka, operators must create and initialize
     a database for the API service. Configure this in
-    [api_database]/connection, and then run `nova-manage api_db sync'
+    [api_database]/connection, and then run ``nova-manage api_db sync``