diff --git a/release/README.md b/release/README.md
index 1d3e784936..16b2fcfe77 100644
--- a/release/README.md
+++ b/release/README.md
@@ -3,24 +3,20 @@
 ## release checklist
 
 **Go to `devel-staging`**
+- [ ] update RELEASES.md
 - [ ] update `devel-staging`: `git reset --hard origin/master-ci`
 - [ ] open a pull request from `devel-staging` to `devel`
+- [ ] post on Discord
 
 **Go to `devel`**
-- [ ] update RELEASES.md
-- [ ] close out milestone
-- [ ] post on Discord dev channel
 - [ ] bump version on master: `common/version.h` and `RELEASES.md`
-- [ ] merge the pull request
-
-tests:
-- [ ] update from previous release -> new release
-- [ ] update from new release -> previous release
-- [ ] fresh install with `openpilot-test.comma.ai`
-- [ ] drive on fresh install
-- [ ] comma body test
-- [ ] no submodules or LFS
-- [ ] check sentry, MTBF, etc.
+- [ ] before merging the pull request
+  - [ ] update from previous release -> new release
+  - [ ] update from new release -> previous release
+  - [ ] fresh install with `openpilot-test.comma.ai`
+  - [ ] drive on fresh install
+  - [ ] no submodules or LFS
+  - [ ] check sentry, MTBF, etc.
 
 **Go to `release3`**
 - [ ] publish the blog post
@@ -32,5 +28,6 @@ git push origin v0.X.X
 ```
 - [ ] create GitHub release
 - [ ] final test install on `openpilot.comma.ai`
-- [ ] update production
-- [ ] Post on Discord, X, etc.
+- [ ] update factory provisioning
+- [ ] close out milestone
+- [ ] post on Discord, X, etc.