diff --git a/release/prep_release.sh b/release/prep_release.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2f32b400
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release/prep_release.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2013 Conformal Systems LLC <info@conformal.com>
+#
+# Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any
+# purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
+# copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
+# WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+# MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
+# ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+# WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
+# ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
+# OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+#
+#
+# Prepares for a release:
+#   - Bumps version according to specified level (major, minor, or patch)
+#   - Updates all version files and package control files with new version
+#   - Performs some basic validation on specified release notes
+#   - Updates project changes file with release notes
+#
+
+PROJECT=btcd
+PROJECT_UC=$(echo $PROJECT | tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]')
+SCRIPT=$(basename $0)
+VERFILE=../version.go
+PROJ_CHANGES=../CHANGES
+
+# verify params
+if [ $# -lt 2 ]; then
+	echo "usage: $SCRIPT {major | minor | patch} release-notes-file"
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+CUR_DIR=$(pwd)
+cd "$(dirname $0)"
+
+# verify version file exists
+if [ ! -f "$VERFILE" ]; then
+	echo "$SCRIPT: error: $VERFILE does not exist" 1>&2
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# verify changes file exists
+if [ ! -f "$PROJ_CHANGES" ]; then
+	echo "$SCRIPT: error: $PROJ_CHANGES does not exist" 1>&2
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+RTYPE="$1"
+RELEASE_NOTES="$2"
+if [ $(echo $RELEASE_NOTES | cut -c1) != "/" ]; then
+	RELEASE_NOTES="$CUR_DIR/$RELEASE_NOTES"
+fi
+
+# verify valid release type
+if [ "$RTYPE" != "major" -a "$RTYPE" != "minor" -a "$RTYPE" != "patch" ]; then
+	echo "$SCRIPT: error: release type must be major, minor, or patch"
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# verify release notes
+if [ ! -e "$RELEASE_NOTES" ]; then
+	echo "$SCRIPT: error: specified release notes file does not exist"
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+if [ ! -s "$RELEASE_NOTES" ]; then
+	echo "$SCRIPT: error: specified release notes file is empty"
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# verify release notes format
+while IFS='' read line; do
+	if [ -z "$line" ]; then
+		echo "$SCRIPT: error: release notes must not have blank lines"
+		exit 1
+	fi
+	if [ ${#line} -gt 74 ]; then
+		echo -n "$SCRIPT: error: release notes must not contain lines "
+		echo    "with more than 74 characters"
+		exit 1
+	fi
+	if expr "$line" : ".*\.$" >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
+		echo -n "$SCRIPT: error: release notes must not contain lines "
+		echo    "that end in a period"
+		exit 1
+	fi
+	if ! expr "$line" : "\-" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+	if ! expr "$line" : "  " >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		echo -n "$SCRIPT: error: release notes must not contain lines "
+		echo    "that do not begin with a dash and are not indented"
+		exit 1
+	fi
+	fi
+done <"$RELEASE_NOTES"
+
+# verify git is available
+if ! type git >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+	echo -n "$SCRIPT: error: Unable to find 'git' in the system path."
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# verify the git repository is on the master branch
+BRANCH=$(git branch | grep '\*' | cut -c3-)
+if [ "$BRANCH" != "master" ]; then
+	echo "$SCRIPT: error: git repository must be on the master branch."
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# verify there are no uncommitted modifications prior to release modifications
+NUM_MODIFIED=$(git diff 2>/dev/null | wc -l | sed 's/^[ \t]*//')
+NUM_STAGED=$(git diff --cached 2>/dev/null | wc -l | sed 's/^[ \t]*//')
+if [ "$NUM_MODIFIED" != "0" -o "$NUM_STAGED" != "0" ]; then
+	echo -n "$SCRIPT: error: the working directory contains uncommitted "
+	echo    "modifications"
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# get version
+PAT_PREFIX="(^[[:space:]]+app"
+PAT_SUFFIX='[[:space:]]+uint[[:space:]]+=[[:space:]]+)[0-9]+$'
+MAJOR=$(egrep "${PAT_PREFIX}Major${PAT_SUFFIX}" $VERFILE | awk '{print $4}')
+MINOR=$(egrep "${PAT_PREFIX}Minor${PAT_SUFFIX}" $VERFILE | awk '{print $4}')
+PATCH=$(egrep "${PAT_PREFIX}Patch${PAT_SUFFIX}" $VERFILE | awk '{print $4}')
+if [ -z "$MAJOR" -o -z "$MINOR" -o -z "$PATCH" ]; then
+	echo "$SCRIPT: error: unable to get version from $VERFILE" 1>&2
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# bump version according to level
+if [ "$RTYPE" = "major" ]; then
+	MAJOR=$(expr $MAJOR + 1)
+	MINOR=0
+	PATCH=0
+elif [ "$RTYPE" = "minor" ]; then
+	MINOR=$(expr $MINOR + 1)
+	PATCH=0
+elif [ "$RTYPE" = "patch" ]; then
+	PATCH=$(expr $PATCH + 1)
+fi
+PROJ_VER="$MAJOR.$MINOR.$PATCH"
+
+# update project changes with release notes
+DATE=$(date "+%a %b %d %Y")
+awk -v D="$DATE" -v VER="$PROJ_VER" '
+/=======/ && first_line==0 {
+	first_line=1
+	print $0
+	next
+}
+/=======/ && first_line==1 {
+	print $0
+	print ""
+	print "Changes in "VER" ("D")"
+	exit
+}
+{ print $0 }
+' <"$PROJ_CHANGES" >"${PROJ_CHANGES}.tmp"
+cat "$RELEASE_NOTES" | sed 's/^/  /' >>"${PROJ_CHANGES}.tmp"
+awk '
+/=======/ && first_line==0 {
+	first_line=1
+	next
+}
+/=======/ && first_line==1 {
+	second_line=1
+	next
+}
+second_line==1 { print $0 }
+' <"$PROJ_CHANGES" >>"${PROJ_CHANGES}.tmp"
+
+# update version file with new version
+sed -E "
+    s/${PAT_PREFIX}Major${PAT_SUFFIX}/\1${MAJOR}/;
+    s/${PAT_PREFIX}Minor${PAT_SUFFIX}/\1${MINOR}/;
+    s/${PAT_PREFIX}Patch${PAT_SUFFIX}/\1${PATCH}/;
+" <"$VERFILE" >"${VERFILE}.tmp"
+
+
+# Apply changes
+mv "${PROJ_CHANGES}.tmp" "$PROJ_CHANGES"
+mv "${VERFILE}.tmp" "$VERFILE"
+
+echo "All files have been prepared for release."
+echo "Use the following commands to review the changes for accuracy:"
+echo "  git status"
+echo "  git diff"
+echo ""
+echo "If everything is accurate, use the following commands to commit, tag,"
+echo "and push the changes"
+echo "  git commit -am \"Prepare for release ${PROJ_VER}.\""
+echo -n "  git tag -a \"${PROJECT_UC}_${MAJOR}_${MINOR}_${PATCH}\" -m "
+echo    "\"Release ${PROJ_VER}\""
+echo "  git push"
+echo "  git push --tags"