diff --git a/docs/releasing.md b/docs/releasing.md
index dfaebd76a..3fc91b0ba 100644
--- a/docs/releasing.md
+++ b/docs/releasing.md
@@ -1,13 +1,20 @@
 # Releasing
 
-## Release to production
+_First create a prerelease to verify the relase infrastructure_
 
-This can all be done from your local terminal.
+1. `git tag v1.2.3-pre`
+2. `git push origin v1.2.3-pre`
+3. Wait several minutes for the build to run <https://github.com/cli/cli/actions>
+4. Verify the prerelease succeeded and has the correct artifacts at <https://github.com/cli/cli/releases>
 
-1. `git tag v1.2.3`
-2. `git push origin v1.2.3`
-3. Wait a few minutes for the build to run <https://github.com/cli/cli/actions>
-4. Check <https://github.com/cli/cli/releases>
+_Next create a the production release_
+
+5. `git tag v1.2.3`
+6. `git push origin v1.2.3`
+7. Wait several minutes for the build to run <https://github.com/cli/cli/actions>
+8. Check <https://github.com/cli/cli/releases>
+9. Verify the marketing site was updated https://cli.github.com/
+10. Delete the prerelease on GitHub <https://github.com/cli/cli/releases>
 
 ## Release locally for debugging