diff --git a/documentation/misc/RELEASE_ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md b/documentation/misc/RELEASE_ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
index 6e1834ea8..8c3cce944 100644
--- a/documentation/misc/RELEASE_ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/documentation/misc/RELEASE_ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ First steps:
 Prepping an RC:
 
 - [ ] version string in `build/version.go` has been updated (in the `release/vX.Y.Z` branch).
+- [ ] run `make gen && make docsgen-cli`
 - [ ] tag commit with `vX.Y.Z-rcN`
 - [ ] cut a pre-release [here](https://github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/releases/new?prerelease=true)
 
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ Testing an RC:
 - [ ] **Stage 4 - Stable Release**
   - [ ] Final preparation
     - [ ] Verify that version string in [`version.go`](https://github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/blob/master/build/version.go) has been updated.
+    - [ ] Verify that codegen is up to date (`make gen && make docsgen-cli`)
     - [ ] Ensure that [CHANGELOG.md](https://github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md) is up to date
     - [ ] Merge `release-vX.Y.Z` into the `releases` branch.
     - [ ] Tag this merge commit (on the `releases` branch) with `vX.Y.Z`