diff --git a/.github/workflows/upload-release-zip.yml b/.github/workflows/upload-release-zip.yml
index f4f5bca..95a0328 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upload-release-zip.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upload-release-zip.yml
@@ -19,12 +19,16 @@ jobs:
         with:
           composer-options: "--no-dev"
 
+      - name: Prepare the openedx-commerce directory for the release
+        run: |
+          make release
+
       - name: Archive Release
         uses: thedoctor0/zip-release@0.7.6
         with:
           type: 'zip'
           filename: 'openedx-commerce.zip'
-          exclusions: '*.git* .* /test/* /requirements/* /docs/* composer.lock *.yaml *.xml Makefile'
+          path: './openedx-commerce'
 
       - name: Upload zip to latest release
         uses: xresloader/upload-to-github-release@v1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/wordpress-plugin-check.yml b/.github/workflows/wordpress-plugin-check.yml
index 767340a..65186c2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/wordpress-plugin-check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/wordpress-plugin-check.yml
@@ -15,11 +15,9 @@ jobs:
       with:
         composer-options: "--no-dev"
 
-    # Prepare the plugin as we prepare it in the ZIP creation
-    - name: Create openedx-commerce directory and copy files
+    - name: Prepare the openedx-commerce directory for the release
       run: |
-        mkdir openedx-commerce
-        rsync -av --exclude='*.git*' --exclude='.*' --exclude='/test/*' --exclude='/requirements/*' --exclude='/docs/*' --exclude='composer.lock' --exclude='*.yaml' --exclude='*.xml' --exclude='Makefile' ./ openedx-commerce/
+        make release
 
     - name: Run plugin check
       uses: wordpress/plugin-check-action@v1
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 1c68427..68f2e9d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -34,6 +34,13 @@ requirements:
 serve_docs: ## serve the built docs locally to preview the site in the browser
 	sphinx-autobuild docs/source $(BUILDDIR)/html
 
+# Create the openedx-commerce directory with the needed files for the release.
+release:
+	mkdir openedx-commerce
+	rsync -av --exclude='*.git*' --exclude='.*' --exclude='/test/*' \
+	--exclude='/requirements/*' --exclude='/docs/*' --exclude='composer.lock' \
+	--exclude='*.yaml' --exclude='*.xml' --exclude='Makefile' ./ openedx-commerce/
+
 # Catch-all target: route all unknown targets to Sphinx using the new
 # "make mode" option.  $(O) is meant as a shortcut for $(SPHINXOPTS).
 %: Makefile