diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 500aa5af..acc57196 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ dist:
 
 .PHONY: release
 release: lock dist
-	# check that changelog is updated
-	if ! grep ${version} CHANGELOG.rst
+	# check that changelog is updated.  only look at first 3 parts of semver
+	version=$(version)
+	stripped=$$(echo $${version} | cut -d . -f -3)
+	if ! grep $${stripped} CHANGELOG.rst
 	then
 		echo "Changelog doesn't seem to be updated! Quitting..."
 		exit 1
@@ -20,7 +22,7 @@ release: lock dist
 
 .PHONY: lock
 lock:
-	# make a requirements.txt lockfile
+	# run tests then make a requirements.txt lockfile
 	rm -rf .venv_lock
 	virtualenv .venv_lock
 	. .venv_lock/bin/activate
@@ -28,6 +30,14 @@ lock:
 	python tests/tests.py
 	pip freeze > requirements.txt
 
+.PHONY: tag
+tag:
+	# tag git commit
+	git add requirements.txt
+	git add CHANGELOG.rst
+	git commit -m "bump version"
+	git tag -a v$(version) -m "version $(version)"
+
 
 .PHONY: docs
 docs: