diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 2db6e72..8794543 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -22,4 +22,5 @@ jobs:
         env:
           CHANGELOG_FILE: CHANGELOG.md
           BASH_ENV: ./lib.sh
+          DRY_RUN: false
         run: ./workflows/release/tag.sh
diff --git a/tags.txt b/tags.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7933af7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tags.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# this file is generated to aid in automating releases
+v0.2.1
diff --git a/workflows/release/changelog.sh b/workflows/release/changelog.sh
index fda7372..105bb1d 100755
--- a/workflows/release/changelog.sh
+++ b/workflows/release/changelog.sh
@@ -34,19 +34,20 @@ validate() {
 }
 
 # Description: Calls changelog tool and updates CHANGELOG_FILE
-# Globals    : CHANGELOG_FILE (github workflow or .env)
-# Args       : 1=url 2=title 3=prefix
+# Globals    : CHANGELOG_FILE, TAGS_FILE (github workflow or .env)
+# Args       : 1=url 2=title 3=prefixes
 # STDERR     : Might print errors
 # Returns    : 1 if fail
 # Sideeffects: Updates CHANGELOG_FILE
 # Example    : update_changelog pizza
 update_changelog() {
-  local url=$1 title=${2:-} prefix=${3:-} changes changelog flags=()
+  local url=$1 title=${2:-} prefixes=${3:-} changes changelog flags=()
 
   changelog=$(cat "$CHANGELOG_FILE")
   flags+=(-title "$title")
-  flags+=(-tagprefix "$prefix")
+  flags+=(-tagprefixes "$prefixes")
   flags+=(-url "$url")
+  flags+=(-tagsfile "${TAGS_FILE:-}")
 
   changes=$(changelog "${flags[@]}")
   if [ ! "$changes" ]; then
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ update_changelog() {
   fi
 
   printf %s "$changes" >"$CHANGELOG_FILE"
+  printf "\n\n" >>"$CHANGELOG_FILE"
   printf %s "$changelog" >>"$CHANGELOG_FILE"
 }
 
diff --git a/workflows/release/tag.sh b/workflows/release/tag.sh
index 6565255..ad058e3 100755
--- a/workflows/release/tag.sh
+++ b/workflows/release/tag.sh
@@ -101,13 +101,19 @@ validate_tags() {
 }
 
 # Description: Creates and pushes git tags
-# Globals    : DRY_RUN (set to echo to dry run)
+# Globals    : DRY_RUN bool
 # Args       : words separated by spaces
 # STDOUT     : Prints each tag created, plus git output
 # STDERR     : Git might output
 # Sideeffects: Pushes git tags
 # Example    : tag_and_push foo/v1.1.1. bar/v1.2.3
 tag_and_push() {
+  if [ "${DRY_RUN:-}" == "true" ]; then
+    DRY_RUN="echo"
+  else
+    DRY_RUN=""
+  fi
+
   for tag in "$@"; do
     msgln "$tag"
     $DRY_RUN git tag "$tag" HEAD