diff --git a/cli/recipe/release.go b/cli/recipe/release.go
index 79c72d10..d08b3d70 100644
--- a/cli/recipe/release.go
+++ b/cli/recipe/release.go
@@ -393,15 +393,15 @@ func createReleaseFromPreviousTag(tagString, mainAppVersion string, recipe recip
 	}
 
 	if err := commitRelease(recipe, tagString); err != nil {
-		logrus.Fatal(err)
+		logrus.Fatalf("failed to commit changes: %s", err.Error())
 	}
 
 	if err := tagRelease(tagString, repo); err != nil {
-		logrus.Fatal(err)
+		logrus.Fatalf("failed to tag release: %s", err.Error())
 	}
 
 	if err := pushRelease(recipe, tagString); err != nil {
-		logrus.Fatal(err)
+		logrus.Fatalf("failed to publish new release: %s", err.Error())
 	}
 
 	return nil