diff --git a/.tools/semantic-release/.releaserc.yaml b/.tools/semantic-release/.releaserc.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a68877
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.tools/semantic-release/.releaserc.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+plugins:
+  - - "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer"
+    - preset: "conventionalcommits"
+      releaseRules:
+        # Given Go v2+ conventions we disable major releases on
+        # breaking changes and leave it up to the developer
+        # to make major releases
+        - breaking: true
+          release: "minor"
+  - "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator"
+  - "@semantic-release/github"
+
+branches: ["master"]
+# github plugin is the only one running this step and we're not interested
+# in its updates to PR and issues
+success: false
+# github plugin is the only one running this step and we're not interested
+# the issues it creates due to failed releases
+fail: false
diff --git a/.tools/semantic-release/package.json b/.tools/semantic-release/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3069fdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.tools/semantic-release/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "semantic-release": "^17.3.0",
+    "@semantic-release/github": "^7.2.0",
+    "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator": "^9.0.1",
+    "conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits": "^4.5.0"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/.tools/semantic-release/rules.mk b/.tools/semantic-release/rules.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2992c1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.tools/semantic-release/rules.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+semantic_release_cwd := $(abspath $(dir $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
+semantic_release := $(semantic_release_cwd)/node_modules/.bin/semantic-release
+
+$(semantic_release): $(semantic_release_cwd)/package.json
+	$(info [semantic-release] installing packages...)
+	@cd $(semantic_release_cwd) && npm install --no-save --no-audit --ignore-scripts &> /dev/null
+	@touch $@
+
+.PHONY: semantic-release
+semantic-release: $(semantic_release_cwd)/.releaserc.yaml $(semantic_release)
+	$(info [$@] creating release...)
+	@cd $(semantic_release_cwd) && $(semantic_release)
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 814baa5..6f77873 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+SHELL := /usr/bin/env bash
+
 # all: run a complete build
 all: \
 	yaml-format \
@@ -14,6 +16,7 @@ include .tools/git-verify-nodiff/rules.mk
 include .tools/golangci-lint/rules.mk
 include .tools/prettier/rules.mk
 include .tools/goreview/rules.mk
+include .tools/semantic-release/rules.mk
 
 .PHONY: go-test
 go-test: