diff --git a/makefile b/makefile
index 5ad0e10..9bbd83e 100644
--- a/makefile
+++ b/makefile
@@ -16,10 +16,12 @@ release: release-check release-tag upload
 
 release-check:
 	git pull
-	tox
+	make test
 
 release-tag: VERSION:=$(shell python setup.py --version)
 release-tag:
+	sed -i -e "s/unreleased/$(date '+%Y-%m-%d')/" CHANGES.txt
+	git ci -m"update release date for $(VERSION) in CHANGES.txt" CHANGES.txt
 	git tag -a v$(VERSION) -m"release version $(VERSION)"
 	git push --tags