diff --git a/src/pkgmgr/actions/release/files.py b/src/pkgmgr/actions/release/files.py
index d1f2481..c56f13b 100644
--- a/src/pkgmgr/actions/release/files.py
+++ b/src/pkgmgr/actions/release/files.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ import tempfile
 from datetime import date, datetime
 from typing import Optional, Tuple
 
+from pkgmgr.core.git.queries import get_config_value
+
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Editor helper for interactive changelog messages
@@ -74,10 +76,7 @@ def _open_editor_for_changelog(initial_message: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
         except OSError:
             pass
 
-    lines = [
-        line for line in content.splitlines()
-        if not line.strip().startswith("#")
-    ]
+    lines = [line for line in content.splitlines() if not line.strip().startswith("#")]
     return "\n".join(lines).strip()
 
 
@@ -85,6 +84,7 @@ def _open_editor_for_changelog(initial_message: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
 # File update helpers (pyproject + extra packaging + changelog)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+
 def update_pyproject_version(
     pyproject_path: str,
     new_version: str,
@@ -365,24 +365,6 @@ def update_changelog(
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
-def _get_git_config_value(key: str) -> Optional[str]:
-    """
-    Try to read a value from `git config --get <key>`.
-    """
-    try:
-        result = subprocess.run(
-            ["git", "config", "--get", key],
-            capture_output=True,
-            text=True,
-            check=False,
-        )
-    except Exception:
-        return None
-
-    value = result.stdout.strip()
-    return value or None
-
-
 def _get_debian_author() -> Tuple[str, str]:
     """
     Determine the maintainer name/email for debian/changelog entries.
@@ -396,9 +378,9 @@ def _get_debian_author() -> Tuple[str, str]:
         email = os.environ.get("GIT_AUTHOR_EMAIL")
 
     if not name:
-        name = _get_git_config_value("user.name")
+        name = get_config_value("user.name")
     if not email:
-        email = _get_git_config_value("user.email")
+        email = get_config_value("user.email")
 
     if not name:
         name = "Unknown Maintainer"
diff --git a/src/pkgmgr/core/git/queries/__init__.py b/src/pkgmgr/core/git/queries/__init__.py
index 1a3ff9e..6874233 100644
--- a/src/pkgmgr/core/git/queries/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pkgmgr/core/git/queries/__init__.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from .get_remote_push_urls import get_remote_push_urls
 from .probe_remote_reachable import probe_remote_reachable
 from .get_changelog import get_changelog, GitChangelogQueryError
 from .get_tags_at_ref import get_tags_at_ref, GitTagsAtRefQueryError
+from .get_config_value import get_config_value
 
 __all__ = [
     "get_current_branch",
@@ -23,4 +24,5 @@ __all__ = [
     "GitChangelogQueryError",
     "get_tags_at_ref",
     "GitTagsAtRefQueryError",
+    "get_config_value",
 ]
diff --git a/src/pkgmgr/core/git/queries/get_config_value.py b/src/pkgmgr/core/git/queries/get_config_value.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c859d5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pkgmgr/core/git/queries/get_config_value.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Optional
+
+from ..errors import GitError
+from ..run import run
+
+
+def _is_missing_key_error(exc: GitError) -> bool:
+    msg = str(exc).lower()
+
+    # Ensure we only swallow the expected case for THIS command.
+    if "git config --get" not in msg:
+        return False
+
+    # 'git config --get' returns exit code 1 when the key is not set.
+    return "exit code: 1" in msg
+
+def get_config_value(key: str, *, cwd: str = ".") -> Optional[str]:
+    """
+    Return a value from `git config --get <key>`, or None if not set.
+
+    We keep core.git.run() strict (check=True) and interpret the known
+    'not set' exit-code case here.
+    """
+    try:
+        output = run(["config", "--get", key], cwd=cwd)
+    except GitError as exc:
+        if _is_missing_key_error(exc):
+            return None
+        raise
+
+    output = output.strip()
+    return output or None