diff --git a/RELEASE.txt b/RELEASE.txt
index be5c1da3..915134ad 100644
--- a/RELEASE.txt
+++ b/RELEASE.txt
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ How to make a new release of ``skimage``
 
 - Add the version number as a tag in git::
 
-   git tag v0.X.0
+   git tag -s v0.X.0
+
+  (If you do not have a gpg key, use -m instead; it is important for
+  Debian packaging that the tags are annotated)
 
 - Push the new meta-data to github::