1 files changed, 16 insertions, 3 deletions

diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 895465dc969..cca120baa1c 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -1142,12 +1142,18 @@ system_flags = $(foreach system,$(1),-s $(system))
 #   5. Build the installation and VM images.  The images will run 'guix'
 #      corresponding to 'vX.Y.Z' + 1 commit, and they will install 'vX.Y.Z'.
 #
-# This 'release' target takes care of everything and copies the resulting
-# files to $(releasedir).
+# This is split into two targets, because a commit is made that has to be
+# pushed to Guix.
+# First, 'prepare-release' should be run, doing steps 1 and 2.
+# Then, the resulting commit should be pushed so that it's available
+# to be downloaded for the system images.
+# Afterwards, the 'release' target takes care of the rest.  This 'release'
+# target takes care of everything and copies the resulting files to
+# $(releasedir).
 #
 # XXX: Depend on 'dist' rather than 'distcheck' to work around the Gettext
 # issue described at <https://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/index.php?51027>.
-release: dist-with-updated-version all
+prepare-release: dist-with-updated-version all
         @if ! git diff-index --quiet HEAD; then                 \
           echo "There are uncommitted changes; stopping." >&2 ; \
           exit 1 ;                                              \
@@ -1165,6 +1171,13 @@ release: dist-with-updated-version all
         $(top_builddir)/pre-inst-env guix build guix    \
               $(call system_flags,$(SUPPORTED_SYSTEMS)) \
               -v1 --no-grafts --fallback
+
+        @echo
+        @echo "First step done! Source tarball is ready in $(releasedir)"
+        @echo "Now push the resulting commit and run `make release`."
+        @echo
+
+release: all
 # Generate the binary release tarballs.
         rm -f $(BINARY_TARBALLS)
         $(MAKE) $(BINARY_TARBALLS)