diff --git a/extra/release.py b/extra/release.py
index 5fb1302b7d..c1a15fc333 100755
--- a/extra/release.py
+++ b/extra/release.py
@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@
     (r"^ +(  - )", r"\1"),  # adjust nested bullet points indent
     (r"^(\w[^\n]{,80}):(?=\n\n[^ ])", r"### \1"),  # make sections headers
     (r"^(\w[^\n]{81,}):(?=\n\n[^ ])", r"**\1**"),  # make sections headers
-    (r"^- `/?plugins/(\w+)`:?", r"- Plugin **`\1`**:"),  # highlight plugins
+    (
+        r"^- `/?plugins/(\w+)`:?",
+        r"- Plugin [\1](https://beets.readthedocs.io/en/stable/plugins/\1.html):",
+    ),  # highlight plugins
     (r"^- `(\w+)-cmd`:?", r"- Command **`\1`**:"),  # highlight commands
     (r"### [^\n]+\n+(?=### )", ""),  # remove empty sections
 ]
diff --git a/test/test_release.py b/test/test_release.py
index 3c2e7b0d56..0fd045d8f3 100644
--- a/test/test_release.py
+++ b/test/test_release.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def md_changelog():
     return r"""### New features
 
 - Command **`list`**: Update.
-- Plugin **`substitute`**: Some substitute multi-line change. :bug: (\#5467)
+- Plugin [substitute](https://beets.readthedocs.io/en/stable/plugins/substitute.html): Some substitute multi-line change. :bug: (\#5467)
 
 You can do something with this command: