diff --git a/bin/build-helper b/bin/build-helper
index f9b21d76..5bde6cdf 100755
--- a/bin/build-helper
+++ b/bin/build-helper
@@ -169,7 +169,8 @@ eof
         # gpg verify signature
         # gpg --verify <asc-file> <file>
         # gpg --no-default-keyring --keyring <pubkey.gpg> --verify <asc-file> <file>
-        #
+        # Ensure gpg-agent is running.
+        gpg-agent
 
         git tag -s "$target_version" -m "$tagmessage"
         git push --tags
diff --git a/bin/build-helper.freebsd b/bin/build-helper.freebsd
index 61a095cb..32677503 100755
--- a/bin/build-helper.freebsd
+++ b/bin/build-helper.freebsd
@@ -204,7 +204,8 @@ eof
         # gpg verify signature
         # gpg --verify <asc-file> <file>
         # gpg --no-default-keyring --keyring <pubkey.gpg> --verify <asc-file> <file>
-        #
+        # Ensure gpg-agent is running.
+        gpg-agent
 
         git tag -s "$target_version" -m "$tagmessage"
         git push --tags