diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0a94c2c010..a9afd270dc 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ VERSION=`git describe --always`
 GO_VERSION=`go version | awk '{print $$3}'`
 
 default: build test lint gen-doc check-changelog
-release: deps build test lint gen-doc check-changelog
+release: deps build test lint gen-doc
 
 off:
 	GOPROXY=off
diff --git a/changelog/unreleased/fix-release.md b/changelog/unreleased/fix-release.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fb9d01ed0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/unreleased/fix-release.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+
+Enhancement: Do not enforce changelog on release
+
+While releasing a new version of Reva, make release was failing because it was 
+enforcing a changelog entry.
+
+https://github.com/cs3org/reva/pull/1016