diff --git a/lib/fbe/github_graph.rb b/lib/fbe/github_graph.rb
index b30c9bf..2d0a61e 100644
--- a/lib/fbe/github_graph.rb
+++ b/lib/fbe/github_graph.rb
@@ -490,11 +490,12 @@ def total_releases_published(owner, name, since)
     total = 0
     cursor = nil
     loop do
+      after = "after: \"#{cursor}\", " unless cursor.nil?
       result = query(
         <<~GRAPHQL
           {
             repository(owner: "#{owner}", name: "#{name}") {
-              releases(first: 25, after: "#{cursor}", orderBy: { field: CREATED_AT, direction: DESC }) {
+              releases(#{after}first: 25, orderBy: { field: CREATED_AT, direction: DESC }) {
                 nodes {
                   isDraft
                   publishedAt
diff --git a/test/fbe/test_github_graph.rb b/test/fbe/test_github_graph.rb
index 4ff5529..1c03586 100644
--- a/test/fbe/test_github_graph.rb
+++ b/test/fbe/test_github_graph.rb
@@ -315,4 +315,17 @@ def test_pull_request_reviews_omits_after_when_cursor_is_nil
     graph.pull_request_reviews('foo', 'bar', pulls: [[2, nil]])
     refute_includes(captured, 'after: ""')
   end
+
+  def test_total_releases_published_omits_after_when_cursor_is_nil
+    WebMock.disable_net_connect!
+    graph = Fbe::Graph.new(token: 'fake')
+    captured = nil
+    releases = { 'nodes' => [], 'pageInfo' => { 'hasNextPage' => false, 'endCursor' => nil } }
+    graph.define_singleton_method(:query) do |qry|
+      captured = qry
+      { 'repository' => { 'releases' => releases } }
+    end
+    graph.total_releases_published('foo', 'bar', Time.parse('2025-12-16T15:00:00Z'))
+    refute_includes(captured, 'after: ""')
+  end
 end