diff --git a/.github/workflows/semantic-release.yml b/.github/workflows/semantic-release.yml
index 90f8e8e..bbf485e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/semantic-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/semantic-release.yml
@@ -38,11 +38,17 @@ jobs:
           node-version: 22
 
       # Pinned to an exact version: this action publishes no floating major
-      # tags, so @v6 would not resolve. All three plugins in .releaserc.json
-      # ship with the semantic-release core it bundles.
+      # tags, so @v6 would not resolve. The plugins in .releaserc.json ship
+      # with the semantic-release core it bundles, the conventionalcommits
+      # preset (which understands `feat!:`) has to be installed. Version 9:
+      # version 10 needs a newer changelog writer than the bundled
+      # release-notes-generator uses.
       - name: Semantic release
         id: semantic
         uses: cycjimmy/semantic-release-action@v6.0.0
+        with:
+          extra_plugins: |
+            conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits@9
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
diff --git a/.releaserc.json b/.releaserc.json
index fea7fae..d28c3b9 100644
--- a/.releaserc.json
+++ b/.releaserc.json
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
   "branches": ["main"],
   "tagFormat": "v${version}",
   "plugins": [
-    "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer",
-    "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator",
+    ["@semantic-release/commit-analyzer", { "preset": "conventionalcommits" }],
+    ["@semantic-release/release-notes-generator", { "preset": "conventionalcommits" }],
     "@semantic-release/github"
   ]
 }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3fa706f..55ce032 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -289,9 +289,9 @@ Releases are automated with [semantic-release](https://semantic-release.gitbook.
 
 | PR title | Release |
 |----------|---------|
-| `fix: ...` | patch (1.2.3 → 1.2.4) |
+| `fix: ...`, `perf: ...` | patch (1.2.3 → 1.2.4) |
 | `feat: ...` | minor (1.2.3 → 1.3.0) |
-| `feat!: ...` or a `BREAKING CHANGE:` footer | major (1.2.3 → 2.0.0) |
-| `docs:`, `chore:`, `ci:`, `build:`, `refactor:`, `test:`, `style:`, `perf:` | no release |
+| `!` after the type (e.g. `feat!: ...`, `refactor!: ...`) or a `BREAKING CHANGE:` footer | major (1.2.3 → 2.0.0) |
+| `docs:`, `chore:`, `ci:`, `build:`, `refactor:`, `test:`, `style:`, `revert:` | no release |
 
 On every merge to `main` the next version is determined, tagged (`vX.Y.Z`), a GitHub release is created and the package is published to PyPI. The version is set during the build and is not committed, so the version in `pyproject.toml` is not the released version.