diff --git a/internal/releaseprep/releaseprep.go b/internal/releaseprep/releaseprep.go
index a598eab..03d3577 100644
--- a/internal/releaseprep/releaseprep.go
+++ b/internal/releaseprep/releaseprep.go
@@ -104,12 +104,8 @@ func sectionHasEntries(unreleasedBody, sectionName string) bool {
 	}
 
 	afterHeading := unreleasedBody[sectionStart+len(heading):]
-	if strings.HasPrefix(afterHeading, "\r") {
-		afterHeading = afterHeading[1:]
-	}
-	if strings.HasPrefix(afterHeading, "\n") {
-		afterHeading = afterHeading[1:]
-	}
+	afterHeading = strings.TrimPrefix(afterHeading, "\r")
+	afterHeading = strings.TrimPrefix(afterHeading, "\n")
 
 	nextHeading := strings.Index(afterHeading, "\n### ")
 	sectionBody := afterHeading