diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
index 1a60d10..999342b 100644
--- a/RELEASE.md
+++ b/RELEASE.md
@@ -2,7 +2,17 @@
 TBD
 
 # Manual releases
-1. Set BUILD_VERSION, e.g., 1.0.0-beta.3. Set or update the following variables under script/build.sh. Merge via PR to appropriate branch.
+1. Check out the right branch and the right commit. This is necessary
+when not releasing from the HEAD of master.
+
+2. Tag the right commit and push it to GitHub. This is mandatory if the
+release isn't made from the HEAD of master.
+	```
+	git tag 1.0.1 3aba546aea1235
+	git push origin 1.0.1
+	```
+
+3. Set BUILD_VERSION, e.g., 1.0.0-beta.3. Set or update the following variables under script/build.sh. Merge via PR to appropriate branch.
 
 	```
 	auth_proxy_version=${CONTIV_API_PROXY_VERSION:-"1.0.0-beta.3"}
@@ -12,13 +22,13 @@ TBD
 	docker_version=${CONTIV_DOCKER_VERSION:-1.12.6}
 	```
 
-2. Build docker binary image. This would create a docker image contiv/install:$BUILD_VERSION. It also creates two release bundles - contiv-${BUILD_VETSION}.tgz and contiv-full-${BUILD_VERSION}.tgz. This version should be tested locally using a vagrant setup with release-test-* make targets.
+4. Build docker binary image. This would create a docker image contiv/install:$BUILD_VERSION. It also creates two release bundles - contiv-${BUILD_VETSION}.tgz and contiv-full-${BUILD_VERSION}.tgz. This version should be tested locally using a vagrant setup with release-test-* make targets.
 
 	```
-	make build
+	make ansible-image
 	```
 
-2. Execute ```./scripts/release.sh``` Creates a new release on GitHub.
+5. Execute ```./scripts/release.sh``` Creates a new release on GitHub.
 
 	```
 	export GITHUB_USER=contiv
@@ -26,7 +36,7 @@ TBD
         ./scripts/release.sh
         ```
 
-3. Push image to docker hub
+6. Push image to docker hub
 
 	```
 	docker login -u $docker_user -p $docker_password
diff --git a/scripts/release.sh b/scripts/release.sh
index 25c96c4..fdf3fe8 100755
--- a/scripts/release.sh
+++ b/scripts/release.sh
@@ -4,8 +4,16 @@
 #  BUILD_VERSION - new version being released
 #  GITHUB_USER - contiv
 #  GITHUB_TOKEN - your github token
+#  USE_RELEASE - if 0 or not set, will make a pre-release
+
 cd -P -- "$(dirname -- "$0")"
 
+if [ -z "$(which github-release)" ]; then
+	echo "Please install github-release before running this script"
+	echo "You may download a release from https://github.com/aktau/github-release/releases or run 'go get github.com/aktau/github-release' if you have Go installed"
+	exit 1
+fi
+
 if [ -z "$BUILD_VERSION" ]; then
 	echo "A release requires BUILD_VERSION to be defined"
 	exit 1
@@ -19,7 +27,11 @@ fi
 if [ "$OLD_VERSION" != "none" ]; then
 	comparison="$OLD_VERSION..HEAD"
 fi
-pre_release="-p"
+
+if [ "$USE_RELEASE" != "1" ]; then
+	echo "Making a pre-release..."
+	pre_release="-p"
+fi
 
 if [ "$OLD_VERSION" != "none" ]; then
 	changelog=$(git log $comparison --oneline --no-merges --reverse)