diff --git a/release.sh b/release.sh
index a01dce49bb4a297508c20ce858031b48cf2c19c1..e3be70fd06fc5dfb554f20ce33bf2c3ef6853097 100755
--- a/release.sh
+++ b/release.sh
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ else
   echo "git archive -o plumed-$version.tgz --prefix plumed-$version/ v$version"
   echo "***"
   confirm || exit
+  git add CHANGES/v$shortversion.txt
   git add VERSION
   git commit --allow-empty -m "$msg"
   git tag v$version