diff --git a/edx_repo_tools/pull_request_creator/__init__.py b/edx_repo_tools/pull_request_creator/__init__.py
index d9e9d281..3a115666 100644
--- a/edx_repo_tools/pull_request_creator/__init__.py
+++ b/edx_repo_tools/pull_request_creator/__init__.py
@@ -617,9 +617,16 @@ def _create_new_pull_request(self):
             pr.number,
         )
         if self.output_pr_url_for_github_action:
-            # using print rather than logger to avoid the logger
-            # prepending anything past which github actions wouldn't parse
-            print(f'generated_pr=https://github.com/{self.repository.full_name}/pull/{pr.number} >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT')
+            # need to append to the special file that GitHub actions exposes
+            # as using print here won't set the output, it simply logs the message
+            github_output_path = os.environ.get("GITHUB_OUTPUT")
+            if not github_output_path:
+                logger.warning("GITHUB_OUTPUT not set, failed to write action output.")
+            else:
+                with open(github_output_path, "a", encoding="utf-8") as out_file:
+                    out_file.write(
+                        f"generated_pr=https://github.com/{self.repository.full_name}/pull/{pr.number}\n"
+                    )
 
     def delete_old_pull_requests(self):
         logger.info("Checking if there's any old pull requests to delete")