diff --git a/utils/release-checklist b/utils/release-checklist
index 4ef8092e6..dff7e86ec 100644
--- a/utils/release-checklist
+++ b/utils/release-checklist
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ for stable releases
 -------------------
 
 * open https://travis-ci.org/sphinx-doc/sphinx/branches and check **X.Y** branch is green
-* Run `git status` and check nothing changed
+* Run `git fetch; git status` and check nothing changed
 * `python utils/bump_version.py X.Y.Z`
 * Check diff by `git diff`
 * Edit CHANGES if empty section exists
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ for first beta releases
 -----------------------
 
 * open https://travis-ci.org/sphinx-doc/sphinx/branches and check **master** branch is green
-* Run `git status` and check nothing changed
+* Run `git fetch; git status` and check nothing changed
 * Run `python setup.py extract_messages`
 * Run `(cd sphinx/locale; tx push -s)`
 * `python utils/bump_version.py X.Y.0b1`
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ for other beta releases
 -----------------------
 
 * open https://travis-ci.org/sphinx-doc/sphinx/branches and check **X.Y** branch is green
-* Run `git status` and check nothing changed
+* Run `git fetch; git status` and check nothing changed
 * `python utils/bump_version.py X.Y.0bN`
 * Check diff by `git diff`
 * Edit CHANGES if empty section exists
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ for major releases
 ------------------
 
 * open https://travis-ci.org/sphinx-doc/sphinx/branches and check **X.Y** branch is green
-* Run `git status` and check nothing changed
+* Run `git fetch; git status` and check nothing changed
 * Run `(cd sphinx/locale; tx pull -a -f)`
 * Run `python setup.py compile_catalog`
 * Run `git add sphinx`