diff --git a/scripts/release/publish.js b/scripts/release/publish.js
index 202ce990..41e4747b 100644
--- a/scripts/release/publish.js
+++ b/scripts/release/publish.js
@@ -8,32 +8,25 @@ const args = process.argv.slice(2);
 const version = args[0];
 const skipGit = args[1] === '--skip-git';
 
-const releaseCommands = [
-  // use lerna to bump versions and dependencies
-  `./node_modules/.bin/lerna publish --skip-git --skip-npm --repo-version ${version} --yes`
-];
+console.log(`Publishing ${version}`);
+
+// use lerna to bump versions and dependencies
+execSync(`./node_modules/.bin/lerna publish --skip-git --skip-npm --repo-version ${version} --yes`);
 
 if (!skipGit) {
-  releaseCommands.push(
-    ...[
-      // add changes
-      'git add .',
-      // commit
-      `git commit -m "${version}"`,
-      // tag
-      `git tag -m ${version} "${version}"`
-    ]
-  );
+  // add changes
+  execSync('git add .');
+  // commit
+  execSync(`git commit -m "${version}" --no-verify`);
+  // tag
+  execSync(`git tag -m ${version} "${version}"`);
 }
 
-// publish to npm
-releaseCommands.push('cd packages/babel-plugin-react-native-web && npm publish');
-releaseCommands.push('cd ../react-native-web && npm publish');
+// publish to npm (expect plugin to error as version won't change often)
+execSync('cd packages/react-native-web && npm publish');
+execSync('cd packages/babel-plugin-react-native-web && npm publish');
 
 if (!skipGit) {
   // push to github
-  releaseCommands.push('git push --tags origin master');
+  execSync('git push --tags origin master');
 }
-
-console.log(`Publishing ${version}`);
-execSync(releaseCommands.join(' && '));