diff --git a/RELEASE.txt b/RELEASE.txt
index b56b5bb8..de90a580 100644
--- a/RELEASE.txt
+++ b/RELEASE.txt
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ How to make a new release of ``skimage``
   - To show a list of contributors and changes, run
     ``doc/release/contribs.py <tag of prev release>``.
 
+  - Review and cleanup ``doc/release/release_dev.txt``, rename to
+    ``doc/release/release_X.txt``, and create new
+    ``doc/release/release_dev.txt``.
+
 - Update the version number in ``setup.py`` and ``bento.info`` and commit
 
 - Update the docs: