diff --git a/scripts/release-one.sh b/scripts/release-one.sh
index 502f2ef0..2c1274a9 100755
--- a/scripts/release-one.sh
+++ b/scripts/release-one.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ if [ ! -x run-medley ] ; then
 fi
 
 tag=$1
+if [ -z "$tag" ] ; then
+    tag=nitely-`date +%y%m%d`
+fi
 
 cd ../maiko/bin
 export PATH=.:"$PATH"
@@ -14,6 +17,8 @@ osarch=`osversion`.`machinetype`
 
 cd ../..
 
+echo making maiko-$tag-$osarch.tgz
+
 tar cfz medley/tmp/maiko-$tag-$osarch.tgz   \
     --exclude "make*" --exclude legacy      \
     maiko/bin                               \
@@ -21,4 +26,6 @@ tar cfz medley/tmp/maiko-$tag-$osarch.tgz   \
 
 cd medley
 
+echo uploading
+
 gh release upload --clobber $tag tmp/maiko-$tag-$osarch.tgz
diff --git a/scripts/start-release.sh b/scripts/start-release.sh
index 20474157..66915ea3 100755
--- a/scripts/start-release.sh
+++ b/scripts/start-release.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ fi
 
 tag=$1
 
+if [ -z "$tag" ] ; then
+    tag=nitely-`date +%y%m%d`
+fi
+
 cd ..
 
 echo making medley zip 
@@ -32,7 +36,6 @@ sed s/'$tag'/$tag/g < release-notes.md > tmp/release-notes.md
 gh release create $tag -F tmp/release-notes.md -p -t $tag
 
 echo uploaded tmp/medley-$tag.tgz
-
 gh release upload $tag tmp/medley-$tag.tgz --clobber
 
 ./scripts/release-one.sh $tag