diff --git a/.pipeliner/verifyica-pipeliner.jar b/.pipeliner/verifyica-pipeliner.jar
index 1813512a..d20fed65 100644
Binary files a/.pipeliner/verifyica-pipeliner.jar and b/.pipeliner/verifyica-pipeliner.jar differ
diff --git a/release.yaml b/release.yaml
index 8628c884..39dd6131 100644
--- a/release.yaml
+++ b/release.yaml
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ pipeline:
     - name: release
       enabled: true
       steps:
+        - name: check for release property
+          run: if [ -z "${{ release }}" ]; then echo "release property is required, exiting" && exit 1; fi
         - name: change version
           enabled: true
           run: |