diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 1d483f6..64487d3 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -4,27 +4,14 @@ EXTRA_DIST      = $(doc_DATA) kernel
 DISTCLEANFILES  = *~ *.d
 ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I m4
 
+TAG = $(top_srcdir)/.git/refs/tags/$(PACKAGE_VERSION)
 
-## Check if tagged in git
-release-hook:
-	if [ ! `git tag -l $(PACKAGE_VERSION) | grep $(PACKAGE_VERSION)` ]; then	\
-		echo;									\
-		printf "\e[1m\e[41mCannot find release tag $(PACKAGE_VERSION)\e[0m\n";	\
-		printf "\e[1m\e[5mDo release anyway?\e[0m "; read yorn;			\
-		if [ "$$yorn" != "y" -a "$$yorn" != "Y" ]; then				\
-			printf "OK, aborting release.\n";				\
-			exit 1;								\
-		fi;									\
-		echo;									\
-	else										\
-		echo;									\
-		printf "\e[1m\e[42mFound GIT release tag $(PACKAGE_VERSION)\e[0m\n";	\
-		printf "\e[1m\e[44m>>Remember to push tags!\e[0m\n";			\
-		echo;									\
-	fi
+$(TAG):
+	@printf "\e[1m\e[41mPlease create the \"$(PACKAGE_VERSION)\" tag first\e[0m\n"
+	@exit 1
 
-## Target to run when building a release
-release: release-hook distcheck
+release: $(TAG) distcheck
+	@git status
 	@for file in $(DIST_ARCHIVES); do		\
 		md5sum $$file    > ../$$file.md5;	\
 		sha1sum $$file   > ../$$file.sha1;	\