diff --git a/doc/dev/releasechecklist b/doc/dev/releasechecklist
index 410c988e..71f2979e 100755
--- a/doc/dev/releasechecklist
+++ b/doc/dev/releasechecklist
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ read wait
 version=$lib_version
 
 # get target branch
-branch=${version%.?}
+branch=${version%\.*}
 
 # add tag
 printf "Enter tag description for %s> " "$version"
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ read tagmessage
 git tag "$version" -m "$tagmessage"
 
 # Import into current version branch
-printf "Press enter to git merge into $branch > "
+printf "Press enter to git merge into branch \"$branch\" > "
 read prompt
 git checkout $branch
 git merge master