diff --git a/cli/catalogue/catalogue.go b/cli/catalogue/catalogue.go
index 3205c6ce8..43de4d8b0 100644
--- a/cli/catalogue/catalogue.go
+++ b/cli/catalogue/catalogue.go
@@ -235,7 +235,8 @@ A new catalogue copy can be published to the recipes repository by passing the
 				}
 			}
 
-			if err := gitPkg.Commit("**.json", internal.CommitMessage, internal.Dry, internal.Push); err != nil {
+			cataloguePath := path.Join(config.ABRA_DIR, "catalogue")
+			if err := gitPkg.Commit(cataloguePath, "**.json", internal.CommitMessage, internal.Dry, internal.Push); err != nil {
 				logrus.Fatal(err)
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/cli/recipe/release.go b/cli/recipe/release.go
index 4a5c43c68..d9bdcfab0 100644
--- a/cli/recipe/release.go
+++ b/cli/recipe/release.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/AlecAivazis/survey/v2"
 	"github.com/docker/distribution/reference"
 	"github.com/go-git/go-git/v5"
-	"github.com/go-git/go-git/v5/plumbing"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/urfave/cli/v2"
 )
@@ -66,234 +65,70 @@ You may invoke this command in "wizard" mode and be prompted for input:
 	BashComplete: autocomplete.RecipeNameComplete,
 	Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 		recipe := internal.ValidateRecipeWithPrompt(c)
-		directory := path.Join(config.APPS_DIR, recipe.Name)
-		tagString := c.Args().Get(1)
-		mainApp := internal.GetMainApp(recipe)
 
 		imagesTmp, err := getImageVersions(recipe)
 		if err != nil {
 			logrus.Fatal(err)
 		}
+
+		mainApp := internal.GetMainApp(recipe)
 		mainAppVersion := imagesTmp[mainApp]
-
-		if err := recipePkg.EnsureExists(recipe.Name); err != nil {
-			logrus.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
 		if mainAppVersion == "" {
 			logrus.Fatalf("main app service version for %s is empty?", recipe.Name)
 		}
 
+		tagString := c.Args().Get(1)
 		if tagString != "" {
 			if _, err := tagcmp.Parse(tagString); err != nil {
-				logrus.Fatal("invalid tag specified")
+				logrus.Fatalf("cannot parse %s, invalid tag specified?", tagString)
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (!internal.Major && !internal.Minor && !internal.Patch) && tagString == "" {
-			logrus.Fatal("please specify <version> or bump type (--major/--minor/--patch)")
-		}
-
 		if (internal.Major || internal.Minor || internal.Patch) && tagString != "" {
 			logrus.Fatal("cannot specify tag and bump type at the same time")
 		}
 
-		// bumpType is used to decide what part of the tag should be incremented
-		bumpType := btoi(internal.Major)*4 + btoi(internal.Minor)*2 + btoi(internal.Patch)
-		if bumpType != 0 {
-			// a bitwise check if the number is a power of 2
-			if (bumpType & (bumpType - 1)) != 0 {
-				logrus.Fatal("you can only use one of: --major, --minor, --patch.")
-			}
-		}
-
-		if err := internal.PromptBumpType(tagString); err != nil {
-			logrus.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
-		if internal.TagMessage == "" && !internal.NoInput {
-			prompt := &survey.Input{
-				Message: "tag message",
-				Default: "chore: publish new release",
-			}
-
-			if err := survey.AskOne(prompt, &internal.TagMessage); err != nil {
-				logrus.Fatal(err)
-			}
-		}
-
-		var createTagOptions git.CreateTagOptions
-		createTagOptions.Message = internal.TagMessage
-
-		if !internal.Commit && !internal.NoInput {
-			prompt := &survey.Confirm{
-				Message: "git commit changes also?",
-			}
-
-			if err := survey.AskOne(prompt, &internal.Commit); err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-		}
-
-		if !internal.Push && !internal.NoInput {
-			prompt := &survey.Confirm{
-				Message: "git push changes also?",
-			}
-
-			if err := survey.AskOne(prompt, &internal.Push); err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-		}
-
-		if internal.Commit || internal.CommitMessage != "" {
-			if internal.CommitMessage == "" && !internal.NoInput {
-				prompt := &survey.Input{
-					Message: "commit message",
-					Default: "chore: publish new %s version",
-				}
-				if err := survey.AskOne(prompt, &internal.CommitMessage); err != nil {
-					logrus.Fatal(err)
-				}
-			}
-
-			if internal.CommitMessage == "" {
-				logrus.Fatal("no commit message specified?")
-			}
-
-			if err := gitPkg.Commit("compose.**yml", internal.CommitMessage, internal.Dry, false); err != nil {
-				logrus.Fatal(err)
-			}
-		}
-
-		repo, err := git.PlainOpen(directory)
-		if err != nil {
-			logrus.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
-		head, err := repo.Head()
-		if err != nil {
-			logrus.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
 		if tagString != "" {
-			tag, err := tagcmp.Parse(tagString)
-			if err != nil {
+			if err := createReleaseFromTag(recipe, tagString, mainAppVersion); 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 internal.Dry {
-				hash := abraFormatter.SmallSHA(head.Hash().String())
-				logrus.Info(fmt.Sprintf("dry run: not creating tag %s at %s", tagString, hash))
-				return nil
-			}
-
-			repo.CreateTag(tagString, head.Hash(), &createTagOptions)
-			hash := abraFormatter.SmallSHA(head.Hash().String())
-			logrus.Info(fmt.Sprintf("created tag %s at %s", tagString, hash))
-			if internal.Push && !internal.Dry {
-				if err := repo.Push(&git.PushOptions{}); err != nil {
-					logrus.Fatal(err)
-				}
-				logrus.Info(fmt.Sprintf("pushed tag %s to remote", tagString))
-			} else {
-				logrus.Info("dry run: no changes pushed")
-			}
-
-			return nil
 		}
 
-		// get the latest tag with its hash, name etc
-		var lastGitTag tagcmp.Tag
-		iter, err := repo.Tags()
+		tags, err := recipe.Tags()
 		if err != nil {
-			logrus.Fatal(err)
+			return err
 		}
 
-		if err := iter.ForEach(func(ref *plumbing.Reference) error {
-			obj, err := repo.TagObject(ref.Hash())
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
-			tagcmpTag, err := tagcmp.Parse(obj.Name)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
-			if (lastGitTag == tagcmp.Tag{}) {
-				lastGitTag = tagcmpTag
-			} else if tagcmpTag.IsGreaterThan(lastGitTag) {
-				lastGitTag = tagcmpTag
-			}
-
-			return nil
-		}); err != nil {
-			logrus.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
-		if lastGitTag.String() == "" || lastGitTag.String() == ".." {
-			logrus.Warn("no previous git tags found, this is the initial release?")
-		}
-
-		newTag := lastGitTag
-		var newtagString string
-		if bumpType > 0 {
-			if internal.Patch {
-				now, err := strconv.Atoi(newTag.Patch)
-				if err != nil {
-					logrus.Fatal(err)
-				}
-
-				newTag.Patch = strconv.Itoa(now + 1)
-			} else if internal.Minor {
-				now, err := strconv.Atoi(newTag.Minor)
-				if err != nil {
-					logrus.Fatal(err)
-				}
-
-				newTag.Patch = "0"
-				newTag.Minor = strconv.Itoa(now + 1)
-			} else if internal.Major {
-				now, err := strconv.Atoi(newTag.Major)
-				if err != nil {
-					logrus.Fatal(err)
-				}
-
-				newTag.Patch = "0"
-				newTag.Minor = "0"
-				newTag.Major = strconv.Itoa(now + 1)
-			}
-		}
-
-		newTag.Metadata = mainAppVersion
-		newtagString = newTag.String()
-		if internal.Dry {
-			hash := abraFormatter.SmallSHA(head.Hash().String())
-			logrus.Info(fmt.Sprintf("dry run: not creating tag %s at %s", newtagString, hash))
-			return nil
-		}
-
-		repo.CreateTag(newtagString, head.Hash(), &createTagOptions)
-		hash := abraFormatter.SmallSHA(head.Hash().String())
-		logrus.Info(fmt.Sprintf("created tag %s at %s", newtagString, hash))
-		if internal.Push && !internal.Dry {
-			if err := repo.Push(&git.PushOptions{}); err != nil {
+		if len(tags) > 0 {
+			if err := createReleaseFromPreviousTag(tagString, mainAppVersion, recipe, tags); err != nil {
 				logrus.Fatal(err)
 			}
-			logrus.Info(fmt.Sprintf("pushed tag %s to remote", newtagString))
 		} else {
-			logrus.Info("dry run: no changes pushed")
+			logrus.Warnf("no tag specified and no previous tag available for %s, assuming this is the initial release", recipe.Name)
+
+			initTag, err := recipePkg.GetVersionLabelLocal(recipe)
+			if err != nil {
+				logrus.Fatal(err)
+			}
+
+			logrus.Warnf("discovered %s as currently synced recipe label", initTag)
+
+			prompt := &survey.Confirm{
+				Message: fmt.Sprintf("use %s as the initial release?", initTag),
+			}
+
+			var response bool
+			if err := survey.AskOne(prompt, &response); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			if !response {
+				logrus.Fatalf("please fix your synced label for %s and re-run this command", recipe.Name)
+			}
+
+			if err := createReleaseFromTag(recipe, initTag, mainAppVersion); err != nil {
+				logrus.Fatal(err)
+			}
 		}
 
 		return nil
@@ -333,6 +168,48 @@ func getImageVersions(recipe recipe.Recipe) (map[string]string, error) {
 	return services, nil
 }
 
+// createReleaseFromTag creates a new release based on a supplied recipe version string
+func createReleaseFromTag(recipe recipe.Recipe, tagString, mainAppVersion string) error {
+	var err error
+
+	directory := path.Join(config.APPS_DIR, recipe.Name)
+	repo, err := git.PlainOpen(directory)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	tag, err := tagcmp.Parse(tagString)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if tag.MissingMinor {
+		tag.Minor = "0"
+		tag.MissingMinor = false
+	}
+
+	if tag.MissingPatch {
+		tag.Patch = "0"
+		tag.MissingPatch = false
+	}
+
+	if err := commitRelease(recipe); err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	tagString = fmt.Sprintf("%s+%s", tag.String(), mainAppVersion)
+
+	if err := tagRelease(tagString, repo); err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if err := pushRelease(tagString, repo); err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // btoi converts a boolean value into an integer
 func btoi(b bool) int {
 	if b {
@@ -341,3 +218,187 @@ func btoi(b bool) int {
 
 	return 0
 }
+
+// getTagCreateOptions constructs git tag create options
+func getTagCreateOptions() (git.CreateTagOptions, error) {
+	if internal.TagMessage == "" && !internal.NoInput {
+		prompt := &survey.Input{
+			Message: "git tag message",
+			Default: "chore: publish new release",
+		}
+
+		if err := survey.AskOne(prompt, &internal.TagMessage); err != nil {
+			return git.CreateTagOptions{}, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return git.CreateTagOptions{Message: internal.TagMessage}, nil
+}
+
+func commitRelease(recipe recipe.Recipe) error {
+	if internal.Dry {
+		logrus.Info("dry run: no changed committed")
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if !internal.Commit && !internal.NoInput {
+		prompt := &survey.Confirm{
+			Message: "git commit changes?",
+		}
+
+		if err := survey.AskOne(prompt, &internal.Commit); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	if internal.CommitMessage == "" && !internal.NoInput {
+		prompt := &survey.Input{
+			Message: "commit message",
+			Default: "chore: publish new %s version",
+		}
+		if err := survey.AskOne(prompt, &internal.CommitMessage); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	if internal.Commit {
+		repoPath := path.Join(config.APPS_DIR, recipe.Name)
+		if err := gitPkg.Commit(repoPath, "compose.**yml", internal.CommitMessage, internal.Dry, false); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func tagRelease(tagString string, repo *git.Repository) error {
+	if internal.Dry {
+		logrus.Info("dry run: no git tag created")
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	head, err := repo.Head()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	createTagOptions, err := getTagCreateOptions()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	_, err = repo.CreateTag(tagString, head.Hash(), &createTagOptions)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	hash := abraFormatter.SmallSHA(head.Hash().String())
+	logrus.Info(fmt.Sprintf("created tag %s at %s", tagString, hash))
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func pushRelease(tagString string, repo *git.Repository) error {
+	if internal.Dry {
+		logrus.Info("dry run: no changes pushed")
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if !internal.Push && !internal.NoInput {
+		prompt := &survey.Confirm{
+			Message: "git push changes?",
+		}
+
+		if err := survey.AskOne(prompt, &internal.Push); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	if internal.Push {
+		if err := repo.Push(&git.PushOptions{}); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		logrus.Info(fmt.Sprintf("pushed tag %s to remote", tagString))
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func createReleaseFromPreviousTag(tagString, mainAppVersion string, recipe recipe.Recipe, tags []string) error {
+	directory := path.Join(config.APPS_DIR, recipe.Name)
+	repo, err := git.PlainOpen(directory)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	bumpType := btoi(internal.Major)*4 + btoi(internal.Minor)*2 + btoi(internal.Patch)
+	if bumpType != 0 {
+		if (bumpType & (bumpType - 1)) != 0 {
+			fmt.Errorf("you can only use one of: --major, --minor, --patch.")
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err := internal.PromptBumpType(tagString); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	var lastGitTag tagcmp.Tag
+	for _, tag := range tags {
+		parsed, err := tagcmp.Parse(tag)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if (lastGitTag == tagcmp.Tag{}) {
+			lastGitTag = parsed
+		} else if parsed.IsGreaterThan(lastGitTag) {
+			lastGitTag = parsed
+		}
+	}
+
+	newTag := lastGitTag
+	if bumpType > 0 {
+		if internal.Patch {
+			now, err := strconv.Atoi(newTag.Patch)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			newTag.Patch = strconv.Itoa(now + 1)
+		} else if internal.Minor {
+			now, err := strconv.Atoi(newTag.Minor)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			newTag.Patch = "0"
+			newTag.Minor = strconv.Itoa(now + 1)
+		} else if internal.Major {
+			now, err := strconv.Atoi(newTag.Major)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			newTag.Patch = "0"
+			newTag.Minor = "0"
+			newTag.Major = strconv.Itoa(now + 1)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err := commitRelease(recipe); err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	newTag.Metadata = mainAppVersion
+	newTagString := newTag.String()
+
+	if err := tagRelease(newTagString, repo); err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if err := pushRelease(newTagString, repo); err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/git/commit.go b/pkg/git/commit.go
index 981efe8da..b4ab636e0 100644
--- a/pkg/git/commit.go
+++ b/pkg/git/commit.go
@@ -2,20 +2,17 @@ package git
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"path"
 
-	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/go-git/go-git/v5"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 )
 
 // Commit runs a git commit
-func Commit(glob, commitMessage string, dryRun, push bool) error {
+func Commit(repoPath, glob, commitMessage string, dryRun, push bool) error {
 	if commitMessage == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("no commit message specified?")
 	}
 
-	repoPath := path.Join(config.ABRA_DIR, "catalogue")
 	commitRepo, err := git.PlainOpen(repoPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/pkg/recipe/recipe.go b/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
index 76d88aa14..33d6bab87 100644
--- a/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
+++ b/pkg/recipe/recipe.go
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func EnsureVersion(recipeName, version string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	logrus.Debugf("read '%s' as tags for recipe '%s'", strings.Join(parsedTags, ", "), recipeName)
+	logrus.Debugf("read %s as tags for recipe %s", strings.Join(parsedTags, ", "), recipeName)
 
 	if tagRef.String() == "" {
 		logrus.Warnf("%s recipe has no local tag: %s? this recipe version is not released?", recipeName, version)
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ func EnsureVersion(recipeName, version string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	logrus.Debugf("successfully checked '%s' out to '%s' in '%s'", recipeName, tagRef.Short(), recipeDir)
+	logrus.Debugf("successfully checked %s out to %s in %s", recipeName, tagRef.Short(), recipeDir)
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -194,14 +194,14 @@ func EnsureLatest(recipeName string) error {
 	}
 
 	if !isClean {
-		return fmt.Errorf("'%s' has locally unstaged changes", recipeName)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s has locally unstaged changes", recipeName)
 	}
 
 	if err := gitPkg.EnsureGitRepo(recipeDir); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	logrus.Debugf("attempting to open git repository in '%s'", recipeDir)
+	logrus.Debugf("attempting to open git repository in %s", recipeDir)
 
 	repo, err := git.PlainOpen(recipeDir)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ func EnsureLatest(recipeName string) error {
 	branch := "master"
 	if _, err := repo.Branch("master"); err != nil {
 		if _, err := repo.Branch("main"); err != nil {
-			logrus.Debugf("failed to select branch in '%s'", path.Join(config.APPS_DIR, recipeName))
+			logrus.Debugf("failed to select branch in %s", path.Join(config.APPS_DIR, recipeName))
 			return err
 		}
 		branch = "main"
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ func EnsureLatest(recipeName string) error {
 	}
 
 	if err := worktree.Checkout(checkOutOpts); err != nil {
-		logrus.Debugf("failed to check out '%s' in '%s'", branch, recipeDir)
+		logrus.Debugf("failed to check out %s in %s", branch, recipeDir)
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -271,3 +271,22 @@ func GetRecipesLocal() ([]string, error) {
 
 	return recipes, nil
 }
+
+// GetVersionLabelLocal retrieves the version label on the local recipe config
+func GetVersionLabelLocal(recipe Recipe) (string, error) {
+	var label string
+
+	for _, service := range recipe.Config.Services {
+		for label, value := range service.Deploy.Labels {
+			if strings.HasPrefix(label, "coop-cloud") {
+				return value, nil
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if label == "" {
+		return label, fmt.Errorf("unable to retrieve synced version label for %s", recipe.Name)
+	}
+
+	return label, nil
+}