diff --git a/.github/PROCESS.md b/.github/PROCESS.md
index 515cac91cc..1bba4c4107 100644
--- a/.github/PROCESS.md
+++ b/.github/PROCESS.md
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ Hotfixes bypass `master` and should only be used for urgent fixes that can't wai
     - For major or minor releases, ensure that the version number has an associated title (for example: `4.5.0 Boron`)
     - Commit these changes with the version number as the message, e.g. `git commit -m "4.5.0"`
 
+1. *(Optional)* Run `npm run release -- --dry-run` to run the release without publishing and verify the version.
+
 1. Run `npm run release`
 
 1. Click **Merge pull request**. Use the dropdown to select this option if necessary.
diff --git a/.scripts/common.js b/.scripts/common.js
index 03996cac99..7e07d80d2a 100644
--- a/.scripts/common.js
+++ b/.scripts/common.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const fs = require('fs-extra');
 const path = require('path');
 const execa = require('execa');
+const inquirer = require('inquirer');
 const Listr = require('listr');
 const semver = require('semver');
 const tc = require('turbocolor');
@@ -34,6 +35,34 @@ function projectPath(project) {
   return path.join(rootDir, project);
 }
 
+async function askTag() {
+  const prompts = [
+    {
+      type: 'list',
+      name: 'tag',
+      message: 'Select npm tag or specify a new tag',
+      choices: ['latest', 'next']
+        .concat([
+          new inquirer.Separator(),
+          {
+            name: 'Other (specify)',
+            value: null
+          }
+        ])
+    },
+    {
+      type: 'confirm',
+      name: 'confirm',
+      message: answers => {
+        return `Will publish to ${tc.cyan(answers.tag)}. Continue?`;
+      }
+    }
+  ];
+
+  const { tag, confirm } = await inquirer.prompt(prompts);
+  return { tag, confirm };
+}
+
 function checkGit(tasks) {
   tasks.push(
     {
@@ -300,6 +329,7 @@ function copyCDNLoader(tasks, version) {
 module.exports = {
   checkTestDist,
   checkGit,
+  askTag,
   isValidVersion,
   isVersionGreater,
   copyCDNLoader,
diff --git a/.scripts/prepare.js b/.scripts/prepare.js
index 0c47bd4864..0d37e4bbce 100644
--- a/.scripts/prepare.js
+++ b/.scripts/prepare.js
@@ -17,9 +17,13 @@ async function main() {
       throw new Error('env.GH_TOKEN is undefined');
     }
 
-    const version = await askVersion();
+    const { version, confirm } = await askVersion();
     const install = process.argv.indexOf('--no-install') < 0;
 
+    if (!confirm) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     // compile and verify packages
     await preparePackages(common.packages, version, install);
 
@@ -85,8 +89,8 @@ async function askVersion() {
     }
   ];
 
-  const {version} = await inquirer.prompt(prompts);
-  return version;
+  const { version, confirm } = await inquirer.prompt(prompts);
+  return { version, confirm };
 }
 
 
diff --git a/.scripts/release.js b/.scripts/release.js
index 97c69b66fa..4c49149518 100644
--- a/.scripts/release.js
+++ b/.scripts/release.js
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ const fs = require('fs-extra');
 
 async function main() {
   try {
+    const dryRun = process.argv.indexOf('--dry-run') > -1;
+
     if (!process.env.GH_TOKEN) {
       throw new Error('env.GH_TOKEN is undefined');
     }
@@ -26,15 +28,31 @@ async function main() {
     // repo must be clean
     common.checkGit(tasks);
 
-    // publish each package in NPM
-    common.publishPackages(tasks, common.packages, version);
+    const { tag, confirm } = await common.askTag();
 
-    // push tag to git remote
-    publishGit(tasks, version, changelog);
+    if (!confirm) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if(!dryRun) {
+      // publish each package in NPM
+      common.publishPackages(tasks, common.packages, version, tag);
+
+      // push tag to git remote
+      publishGit(tasks, version, changelog);
+    }
 
     const listr = new Listr(tasks);
     await listr.run();
-    console.log(`\nionic ${version} published!! 🎉\n`);
+
+    // Dry run doesn't publish to npm or git
+    if (dryRun) {
+      console.log(`
+        \n${tc.yellow('Did not publish. Remove the "--dry-run" flag to publish:')}\n${tc.green(version)} to ${tc.cyan(tag)}\n
+      `);
+    } else {
+      console.log(`\nionic ${version} published to ${tag}!! 🎉\n`);
+    }
 
   } catch (err) {
     console.log('\n', tc.red(err), '\n');