diff --git a/abra b/abra
index 7c780e8..ea9ef13 100755
--- a/abra
+++ b/abra
@@ -1943,8 +1943,13 @@ sub_recipe_release() {
 
   if [ "${#RECIPE_VERSIONS[@]}" -gt 0 ]; then
     latest_version="${RECIPE_VERSIONS[-1]}"
-    latest_version_message=$(git tag -l "$latest_version" --format='%(contents)')
+    if [ "$force" = "true" ]; then
+      latest_version_message=$(git tag -l "$latest_version" --format='%(contents)')
+    else
+      latest_version_message=$(git show -s --format=%s)
+    fi
     info "Latest available version: '$latest_version'"
+    info "Latest verion message: '$latest_version_message'"
   else
     latest_version=""
     latest_version_message="Initial tagged release"