diff --git a/.commitlintrc.yml b/.commitlintrc.yml
index e20c42bc9..b55fcfb1b 100644
--- a/.commitlintrc.yml
+++ b/.commitlintrc.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ rules:
   body-max-line-length: [1, always, 80]
 
   # always sign off the commit
-  signed-off-by: [2, always, "Signed-off-by:"]
+  trailer-exists: [2, always, "Signed-off-by:"]
 
   # valid types/prefixes, see docs/development-guide.md
   type-enum: