diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 5fd9395648..0e7a101b5a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ efi: all
 	@echo wrote linux-$(KVERSION).efi
 
 AUTHORS:
-	git shortlog  --numbered --summary -e |while read a rest || [ -n "$$rest" ]; do echo $$rest;done > AUTHORS
+	@git log | git shortlog --numbered --summary -e | while read -r a rest || [ -n "$$rest" ]; do echo "$$rest"; done > AUTHORS
 
 CONTRIBUTORS:
-	@git shortlog $(DRACUT_MAIN_VERSION).. --numbered --summary -e |while read a rest || [ -n "$$rest" ]; do echo "- $$rest";done
+	@git log | git shortlog $(DRACUT_MAIN_VERSION).. --numbered --summary -e | while read -r a rest || [ -n "$$rest" ]; do echo "- $$rest"; done
diff --git a/tools/release.sh b/tools/release.sh
index f8f78f2ed2..3af681596e 100755
--- a/tools/release.sh
+++ b/tools/release.sh
@@ -1,14 +1,11 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-LAST_VERSION=$(git describe --abbrev=0 --tags --always 2> /dev/null)
-
 # CONTRIBUTORS
 printf "#### Contributors\n\n" > CONTRIBUTORS.md
-git log | git shortlog "$LAST_VERSION.." --numbered --summary -e | while read -r a rest || [ -n "$rest" ]; do echo "- $rest"; done >> CONTRIBUTORS.md
+make CONTRIBUTORS >> CONTRIBUTORS.md
 
 # Update AUTHORS
-# shellcheck disable=SC2034
-git log | git shortlog --numbered --summary -e | while read -r a rest || [ -n "$rest" ]; do echo "$rest"; done > AUTHORS
+make AUTHORS
 
 # Update NEWS.md
 cargo install clog-cli