diff --git a/Makefile.local b/Makefile.local
index 7fc68163..2acc9d3a 100644
--- a/Makefile.local
+++ b/Makefile.local
@@ -100,12 +100,14 @@ release: verify-source-tree-and-version
 	$(MAKE) VERSION=$(VERSION) $(GPG_FILE)
 	ln -sf $(TAR_FILE) $(DEB_TAR_FILE)
 	pristine-tar commit $(DEB_TAR_FILE) $(VERSION)
-	scp $(TAR_FILE) $(SHA1_FILE) $(GPG_FILE) $(RELEASE_HOST):$(RELEASE_DIR)
-	ssh $(RELEASE_HOST) "rm -f $(RELEASE_DIR)/LATEST-$(PACKAGE)-[0-9]* && ln -s $(TAR_FILE) $(RELEASE_DIR)/LATEST-$(PACKAGE)-$(VERSION)"
 	mkdir -p releases
 	mv $(TAR_FILE) $(SHA1_FILE) $(GPG_FILE) releases
-	git push origin $(VERSION)
 	$(MAKE) VERSION=$(VERSION) release-message > $(PACKAGE)-$(VERSION).announce
+ifeq ($(REALLY_UPLOAD),yes)
+	git push origin $(VERSION)
+	cd releases && scp $(TAR_FILE) $(SHA1_FILE) $(GPG_FILE) $(RELEASE_HOST):$(RELEASE_DIR)
+	ssh $(RELEASE_HOST) "rm -f $(RELEASE_DIR)/LATEST-$(PACKAGE)-[0-9]* ; ln -s $(TAR_FILE) $(RELEASE_DIR)/LATEST-$(PACKAGE)-$(VERSION)"
+endif
 	@echo "Please send a release announcement using $(PACKAGE)-$(VERSION).announce as a template."
 
 .PHONY: release-message