diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index 0e64bbf49..9af7cc451 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ jobs:
           github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
       - name: 'Build source distribution'
-        run: ./mvnw clean verify -Psource-distribution -N -B -ntp -e
+        run: ./mvnw clean verify -Psource-distribution -N -B -ntp -e -s .mvn/release-settings.xml
 
       - name: 'Upload artifact'
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
diff --git a/build/release-build.sh b/build/release-build.sh
index ec1dc49f7..5e21b8fff 100755
--- a/build/release-build.sh
+++ b/build/release-build.sh
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ startup_check
 # update version
 mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=$VERSION
 
-# udpate changelog
+# update changelog
 docker run -it --rm -v "$(pwd)":/usr/local/src/your-app githubchangeloggenerator/github-changelog-generator \
     --user apache --project maven-mvnd --token $GITHUB_TOKEN --future-release $VERSION \
     --exclude-tags early-access,0.9.0,1.0.0-m2,build-1.0.0-m2,1.0.0-m3
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ git commit -m "[release] Release $VERSION"
 
 # Create and push tag
 git tag $VERSION
-git push origin $VERSION
+# git push origin $VERSION
 # Pushing a tag will trigger the CI to build the release and publish
 # the artifacts on https://github.com/apache/maven-mvnd/releases
 
@@ -139,4 +139,10 @@ mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=$NEXT_VERSION
 # commit
 git add -A
 git commit -m "Next is $NEXT_VERSION"
-git push origin mvnd-1.x
+# git push origin mvnd-1.x
+
+# NOTE: Manually push once done: git push origin mvnd-1.x --tags
+echo "=============================================================================="
+echo "Release done, nothing got pushed (yet); please push changes with command below"
+echo "$ git push origin mvnd-1.x --tags"
+echo ""
\ No newline at end of file