diff --git a/dev/release.sh b/dev/release.sh
index cf184c3..ed88892 100755
--- a/dev/release.sh
+++ b/dev/release.sh
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@
 if [ -n "$(git status --porcelain)" ]; then
     $VERBOSE "== Committing updates"
     git add -u
-    git commit $git_quiet -m 'make update'
+    git commit $git_quiet -m $'make update\n\nRelease: yes'
     if [ -n "$reviewers" ]; then
         addrev --nopr $reviewers
     fi
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@
 
 $VERBOSE "== Committing updates and tagging"
 git add -u
-git commit $git_quiet -m "Prepare for release of $release_text"
+git commit $git_quiet -m "Prepare for release of $release_text"$'\n\nRelease: yes'
 if [ -n "$reviewers" ]; then
     addrev --nopr $reviewers
 fi
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@
 
 $VERBOSE "== Committing updates"
 git add -u
-git commit $git_quiet -m "Prepare for $release_text"
+git commit $git_quiet -m "Prepare for $release_text"$'\n\nRelease: yes'
 if [ -n "$reviewers" ]; then
     addrev --nopr $reviewers
 fi
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@
 
     $VERBOSE "== Committing updates"
     git add -u
-    git commit $git_quiet -m "Prepare for $release_text"
+    git commit $git_quiet -m "Prepare for $release_text"$'\n\nRelease: yes'
     if [ -n "$reviewers" ]; then
         addrev --nopr $reviewers
     fi