--- gnulib/top/README-release
+++ README-release
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 Here are most of the steps we (maintainers) follow when making a release.
 
+* If you don't yet have gnu ftp upload rights, read this:
+
+    https://www.gnu.org/prep/maintain/html_node/Automated-Upload-Registration.html#Automated-Upload-Registration
+
 * Start from a clean, up-to-date git directory on "master":
 
     make -k maintainer-clean || { ./configure && make maintainer-clean; }
@@ -27,10 +31,25 @@ Here are most of the steps we (maintainers) follow when making a release.
 
     ./bootstrap && ./configure
 
+* Double check that serial number updates in public m4 files weren't
+  forgotten since last release (they should be updated in git along with
+  commits that require it so that users can work with git snapshots).
+
+* Update the LTDL_VERSION_INFO in libltdl/ltdl.mk for changes since
+  the last release.
+
+* Run "./bootstrap && ./configure".
+
 * Pre-release testing: ensure that the following commands succeed:
 
     c=check ve=check-very-expensive; git grep -q "^$ve:\$" && c=$ve
     make $c syntax-check distcheck
+    make distcheck DISTCHECK_CONFIGURE_FLAGS=--disable-ltdl-install
+    make distcheck DISTCHECK_CONFIGURE_FLAGS=--program-prefix=g
+    make distcheck DISTCHECK_CONFIGURE_FLAGS=--disable-shared
+    make distcheck CC=g++
+
+  If there are any problems, fix them and start again.
 
 * To (i) set the date, version number, and release TYPE on line 3 of
   NEWS, (ii) commit that, and (iii) tag the release, run