diff --git a/cli/recipe/release.go b/cli/recipe/release.go
index 9e3dc46a6..f73cc90c5 100644
--- a/cli/recipe/release.go
+++ b/cli/recipe/release.go
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ You may invoke this command in "wizard" mode and be prompted for input:
 		}
 
 		if lastGitTag.String() == "" || lastGitTag.String() == ".." {
-			logrus.Fatal("no git tags found, please specify <version>")
+			logrus.Warn("no previous git tags found, this is the initial release?")
 		}
 
 		newTag := lastGitTag
diff --git a/pkg/app/app.go b/pkg/app/app.go
index eb564a2fc..1ec088b51 100644
--- a/pkg/app/app.go
+++ b/pkg/app/app.go
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ func DeployedVersions(ctx context.Context, cl *apiclient.Client, app config.App)
 	deployed := len(services) > 0
 
 	if deployed {
-		logrus.Debugf("detected '%s' as deployed versions of '%s'", appSpec, app.Name)
+		logrus.Debugf("detected %s as deployed versions of %s", appSpec, app.Name)
 	} else {
-		logrus.Debugf("detected '%s' as not deployed", app.Name)
+		logrus.Debugf("detected %s as not deployed", app.Name)
 	}
 
 	return appSpec, len(services) > 0, nil
@@ -71,15 +71,15 @@ func ParseVersionLabel(label string) (string, string) {
 	idx := strings.LastIndex(label, "-")
 	version := label[:idx]
 	digest := label[idx+1:]
-	logrus.Debugf("parsed '%s' as version from '%s'", version, label)
-	logrus.Debugf("parsed '%s' as digest from '%s'", digest, label)
+	logrus.Debugf("parsed %s as version from %s", version, label)
+	logrus.Debugf("parsed %s as digest from %s", digest, label)
 	return version, digest
 }
 
-// ParseVersionName parses a $STACK_NAME_$SERVICE_NAME service label.
+// ParseServiceName parses a $STACK_NAME_$SERVICE_NAME service label.
 func ParseServiceName(label string) string {
 	idx := strings.LastIndex(label, "_")
 	serviceName := label[idx+1:]
-	logrus.Debugf("parsed '%s' as service name from '%s'", serviceName, label)
+	logrus.Debugf("parsed %s as service name from %s", serviceName, label)
 	return serviceName
 }