diff --git a/cmd/get_commits.go b/cmd/get_commits.go
index 0ce0589..783b376 100644
--- a/cmd/get_commits.go
+++ b/cmd/get_commits.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func getCommits(repo *history.Git) ([]plumbing.Hash, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	commits := make([]plumbing.Hash, 0)
+	var commits []plumbing.Hash
 
 	// If previous tag is not available, or both tags are the same,
 	// provide empty hash so that all commits are iterated.
diff --git a/cmd/publish.go b/cmd/publish.go
index 0de2e97..0c66b83 100644
--- a/cmd/publish.go
+++ b/cmd/publish.go
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ var publishCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			debug = true
 		}
 
+		dryRun := false
+		if cmd.Flag("dry-run").Value.String() == "true" {
+			dryRun = true
+		}
+
 		repo, err := history.OpenGit(".", debug)
 
 		if err != nil {
@@ -60,6 +65,23 @@ var publishCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			)
 		}
 
+		sections := text.SplitSections(parsedCommits)
+
+		releaseNotes := text.ReleaseNotes{
+			Simple: simpleOutput,
+		}
+
+		content := releaseNotes.Generate(sections, dryRun)
+
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if dryRun {
+			fmt.Println("my job here is done...")
+			return nil
+		}
+
 		viper.AutomaticEnv()
 
 		var releaseService *releaser.Releaser
@@ -107,13 +129,7 @@ var publishCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			return errors.New("Missing release service, please consult documentation on required env vars")
 		}
 
-		sections := text.SplitSections(parsedCommits)
-
-		releaseNotes := text.ReleaseNotes{
-			Simple: simpleOutput,
-		}
-
-		err = releaseService.Release(releaseNotes.Generate(sections))
+		err = releaseService.Release(content)
 
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 7ff3226..496708b 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -20,8 +20,12 @@ var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 // Verbose is used to allow verbose/debug output for any given command
 var Verbose bool
 
+// DryRun is used for showing the changelog without actually publishing it
+var DryRun bool
+
 func init() {
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&Verbose, "verbose", "v", false, "verbose output")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&DryRun, "dry-run", "d", false, "dry run")
 }
 
 // Execute just executes the rootCmd for Cobra
diff --git a/internal/releaser/releaser.go b/internal/releaser/releaser.go
index 4d64415..1cf1940 100644
--- a/internal/releaser/releaser.go
+++ b/internal/releaser/releaser.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ type Releaser struct {
 // Options are used to initialize releaser
 type Options struct {
 	Provider Provider
-	DryRun   bool
 	Token    string
 	Owner    string
 	Repo     string
diff --git a/internal/text/release_notes.go b/internal/text/release_notes.go
index 8b4d470..adee478 100644
--- a/internal/text/release_notes.go
+++ b/internal/text/release_notes.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package text
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 )
 
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ type ReleaseNotes struct {
 }
 
 // Generate generates the output mentioned in the expected-output.md
-func (r *ReleaseNotes) Generate(sections map[string][]Commit) string {
+func (r *ReleaseNotes) Generate(sections map[string][]Commit, dryRun bool) string {
 	builder := strings.Builder{}
 	// Extra lines at the start to make sure formatting starts correctly
 	builder.WriteString("\n\n")
@@ -31,5 +32,9 @@ func (r *ReleaseNotes) Generate(sections map[string][]Commit) string {
 		builder.WriteString(r.buildSection("others", sections["others"]))
 	}
 
+	if dryRun {
+		fmt.Print(builder.String())
+	}
+
 	return builder.String()
 }
diff --git a/internal/text/release_notes_test.go b/internal/text/release_notes_test.go
index d2d3092..55eb9a6 100644
--- a/internal/text/release_notes_test.go
+++ b/internal/text/release_notes_test.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func TestReleaseNotes(t *testing.T) {
 		"others":   []Commit{Commit{Category: "other", Scope: "", Heading: "merge master in something"}, Commit{Category: "bs", Scope: "", Heading: "random"}},
 	}
 
-	releaseNotes := notes.Generate(sections)
+	releaseNotes := notes.Generate(sections, false)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, expected+"\n", "test heading"+releaseNotes)
 }
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func TestReleaseNotesSimple(t *testing.T) {
 		"others":   []Commit{Commit{Category: "other", Scope: "", Heading: "merge master in something"}, Commit{Category: "bs", Scope: "", Heading: "random"}},
 	}
 
-	releaseNotes := notes.Generate(sections)
+	releaseNotes := notes.Generate(sections, false)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, expected+"\n", "test heading"+releaseNotes)
 }
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func TestReleaseNotesWithMissingSections(t *testing.T) {
 		"features": []Commit{Commit{Heading: "ci test"}},
 	}
 
-	releaseNotes := notes.Generate(sections)
+	releaseNotes := notes.Generate(sections, false)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, expected, releaseNotes)
 }