diff --git a/release.sh b/release.sh
index 52131578b8..4a5395afda 100755
--- a/release.sh
+++ b/release.sh
@@ -40,20 +40,18 @@ if ! git pull origin "$BASE_SOURCE_BRANCH"; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
-# Create branch for the new release
-if ! git checkout -b "$TARGET_BRANCH" origin/"$BASE_SOURCE_BRANCH"; then
-  echo "Failed to create new branch $TARGET_BRANCH"
-  exit 1
-fi
-
 OLD_VERSION=$(grep version setup.cfg | awk -F' = ' '{print $2}')
 
 # Update setup.cfg with the new version and push to $TARGET_BRANCH
 sed -i s/"$OLD_VERSION"/"$STRIPPED_VERSION"/g "$SETUP_CFG"
 git commit -am "Update version: $TARGET_BRANCH"
 git push origin "$BASE_SOURCE_BRANCH"
-git rebase origin/"$BASE_SOURCE_BRANCH"
-git push origin "$TARGET_BRANCH"
+
+# Create branch for the new release
+if ! git checkout -b "$TARGET_BRANCH" origin/"$BASE_SOURCE_BRANCH"; then
+  echo "Failed to create new branch $TARGET_BRANCH"
+  exit 1
+fi
 
 # Create release on Github
 gh release create "$VERSION"