diff --git a/cli/recipe/release.go b/cli/recipe/release.go
index 64ae37cee..d9e36396e 100644
--- a/cli/recipe/release.go
+++ b/cli/recipe/release.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/config"
 	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/recipe"
 	"coopcloud.tech/tagcmp"
+	"github.com/AlecAivazis/survey/v2"
 	"github.com/go-git/go-git/v5"
 	"github.com/go-git/go-git/v5/plumbing"
 	"github.com/go-git/go-git/v5/plumbing/object"
@@ -56,6 +57,22 @@ var PatchFlag = &cli.BoolFlag{
 	Destination: &Patch,
 }
 
+var CommitMessage string
+var CommitMessageFlag = &cli.StringFlag{
+	Name:        "commit-message",
+	Usage:       "commit message",
+	Aliases:     []string{"cm"},
+	Destination: &CommitMessage,
+}
+
+var Commit bool
+var CommitFlag = &cli.BoolFlag{
+	Name:        "commit",
+	Value:       false,
+	Aliases:     []string{"c"},
+	Destination: &Commit,
+}
+
 var recipeReleaseCommand = &cli.Command{
 	Name:      "release",
 	Usage:     "tag a recipe",
@@ -67,6 +84,8 @@ var recipeReleaseCommand = &cli.Command{
 		MinorFlag,
 		MajorFlag,
 		PushFlag,
+		CommitFlag,
+		CommitMessageFlag,
 	},
 	Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 		recipe := internal.ValidateRecipe(c)
@@ -79,6 +98,36 @@ var recipeReleaseCommand = &cli.Command{
 			logrus.Fatal("Main app's version is empty.")
 		}
 
+		if tagstring != "" {
+			_, err := tagcmp.Parse(tagstring)
+			if err != nil {
+				logrus.Fatal("invalid tag specified")
+			}
+		}
+
+		if Commit || (CommitMessage != "") {
+			commitRepo, err := git.PlainOpen(directory)
+			if err != nil {
+				logrus.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			commitWorktree, err := commitRepo.Worktree()
+			if err != nil {
+				logrus.Fatal(err)
+			}
+
+			if CommitMessage == "" {
+				prompt := &survey.Input{
+					Message: "commit message",
+				}
+				survey.AskOne(prompt, &CommitMessage)
+			}
+			_, err = commitWorktree.Commit(CommitMessage, &git.CommitOptions{})
+			if err != nil {
+				logrus.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			logrus.Info("changes commited")
+		}
+
 		repo, err := git.PlainOpen(directory)
 		if err != nil {
 			logrus.Fatal(err)
@@ -99,9 +148,21 @@ var recipeReleaseCommand = &cli.Command{
 
 		if tagstring != "" {
 			if bumpType > 0 {
-				logrus.Warn("User specified a version number and --major/--minor/--patch at the same time! Using version number.")
+				logrus.Warn("user specified a version number and --major/--minor/--patch at the same time! Using version number.")
 			}
-			tagstring = fmt.Sprintf("%s+%s", tagstring, mainAppVersion)
+			tag, err := tagcmp.Parse(tagstring)
+			if err != nil {
+				logrus.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if tag.MissingMinor {
+				tag.Minor = "0"
+				tag.MissingMinor = false
+			}
+			if tag.MissingPatch {
+				tag.Patch = "0"
+				tag.MissingPatch = false
+			}
+			tagstring = fmt.Sprintf("%s+%s", tag.String(), mainAppVersion)
 			if Dry {
 				logrus.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Dry run only. NOT creating tag %s at %s", tagstring, head.Hash()))
 				return nil
@@ -166,15 +227,7 @@ var recipeReleaseCommand = &cli.Command{
 			}
 			newTagString = newTag.String()
 		} else {
-			// calculate the new tag
-			var images = make(map[string]tagcmp.Tag)
-			for name, version := range imagesTmp {
-				t, err := tagcmp.Parse(version)
-				if err != nil {
-					logrus.Fatal(err)
-				}
-				images[name] = t
-			}
+			logrus.Fatal("we don't support auto tag generation yet. Specify a verion or use one of: --major --minor --patch")
 		}
 
 		newTagString = fmt.Sprintf("%s+%s", newTagString, mainAppVersion)