diff --git a/RELEASE-CHECKLIST.md b/RELEASE-CHECKLIST.md
index 49235cecda0..73eba5a8716 100644
--- a/RELEASE-CHECKLIST.md
+++ b/RELEASE-CHECKLIST.md
@@ -1,19 +1,27 @@
 ## Registry Release Checklist
 
-10. Compile release notes detailing features and since the last release.  Update the `CHANGELOG.md` file.
+10. Compile release notes detailing features and since the last release.
+
+  Update the `CHANGELOG.md` file and create a PR to master with the updates.
+Once that PR has been approved by maintainers the change may be cherry-picked
+to the release branch (new release branches may be forked from this commit).
 
 20. Update the version file: `https://github.com/docker/distribution/blob/master/version/version.go`
 
 30. Update the `MAINTAINERS` (if necessary), `AUTHORS` and `.mailmap` files.
 
-    ```
+```
 make AUTHORS
 ```
 
 40. Create a signed tag.
 
-   Distribution uses semantic versioning.  Tags are of the format `vx.y.z[-rcn]`
-You will need PGP installed and a PGP key which has been added to your Github account.  The comment for the tag should include the release notes.
+   Distribution uses semantic versioning.  Tags are of the format
+`vx.y.z[-rcn]`. You will need PGP installed and a PGP key which has been added
+to your Github account. The comment for the tag should include the release
+notes, use previous tags as a guide for formatting consistently. Run
+`git tag -s vx.y.z[-rcn]` to create tag and `git -v vx.y.z[-rcn]` to verify tag,
+check comment and correct commit hash.
 
 50. Push the signed tag