diff --git a/.github/workflows/docs-ack.yml b/.github/workflows/docs-ack.yml
index 9116be8c7..f11142a36 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docs-ack.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docs-ack.yml
@@ -16,19 +16,29 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Read PR body
         id: body
+        shell: bash
         run: |
-          BODY=$(jq -r '.pull_request.body // ""' "$GITHUB_EVENT_PATH")
-          echo "body<<EOF" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-          echo "$BODY" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-          echo "EOF" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          set -euo pipefail
+          BODY_B64=$(jq -r '.pull_request.body // "" | @base64' "$GITHUB_EVENT_PATH")
+          {
+            echo "body_b64=$BODY_B64"
+          } >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
       - name: Validate checkbox selection
         id: validate
+        shell: bash
+        env:
+          BODY_B64: ${{ steps.body.outputs.body_b64 }}
         run: |
-          body='${{ steps.body.outputs.body }}'
+          set -euo pipefail
+          if ! body="$(printf '%s' "$BODY_B64" | base64 -d)"; then
+            echo "::error::Failed to decode PR body from base64. Data may be corrupted or missing."
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          added_checked=$(printf '%s' "$body" | grep -Ei '^[[:space:]]*-\s*\[x\]\s*I added/updated documentation' | wc -l | tr -d '[:space:]' || true)
+          noneed_checked=$(printf '%s' "$body" | grep -Ei '^[[:space:]]*-\s*\[x\]\s*Documentation is \*\*not needed\*\*' | wc -l | tr -d '[:space:]' || true)
 
-          added_checked=$(printf "%s" "$body" | grep -E '^- \[x\] I added/updated documentation' -i | wc -l | tr -d ' ')
-          noneed_checked=$(printf "%s" "$body" | grep -E '^- \[x\] Documentation is \*\*not needed\*\*' -i | wc -l | tr -d ' ')
 
           if [ "$added_checked" -eq 1 ] && [ "$noneed_checked" -eq 1 ]; then
             echo "::error::Choose exactly one: either 'docs added' OR 'not needed'."
@@ -41,30 +51,35 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
           if [ "$added_checked" -eq 1 ]; then
-            echo "mode=added" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "mode=added" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           else
-            echo "mode=noneed" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "mode=noneed" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           fi
 
       - name: Extract docs PR URL (when 'docs added')
         if: steps.validate.outputs.mode == 'added'
         id: extract
+        shell: bash
+        env:
+          BODY_B64: ${{ steps.body.outputs.body_b64 }}
         run: |
-          body='${{ steps.body.outputs.body }}'
+          set -euo pipefail
+          body="$(printf '%s' "$BODY_B64" | base64 -d)"
 
           # Strictly require HTTPS and that it's a PR in netbirdio/docs
-          # Examples accepted:
-          #   https://github.com/netbirdio/docs/pull/1234
-          url=$(printf "%s" "$body" | grep -Eo 'https://github\.com/netbirdio/docs/pull/[0-9]+' | head -n1 || true)
+          # e.g., https://github.com/netbirdio/docs/pull/1234
+          url="$(printf '%s' "$body" | grep -Eo 'https://github\.com/netbirdio/docs/pull/[0-9]+' | head -n1 || true)"
 
-          if [ -z "$url" ]; then
+          if [ -z "${url:-}" ]; then
             echo "::error::You checked 'docs added' but didn't include a valid HTTPS PR link to netbirdio/docs (e.g., https://github.com/netbirdio/docs/pull/1234)."
             exit 1
           fi
 
-          pr_number=$(echo "$url" | sed -E 's#.*/pull/([0-9]+)$#\1#')
-          echo "url=$url" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-          echo "pr_number=$pr_number" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          pr_number="$(printf '%s' "$url" | sed -E 's#.*/pull/([0-9]+)$#\1#')"
+          {
+            echo "url=$url"
+            echo "pr_number=$pr_number"
+          } >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
       - name: Verify docs PR exists (and is open or merged)
         if: steps.validate.outputs.mode == 'added'