diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d48990e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+name: Run and deploy release
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+#  schedule:
+#    - cron: "0 0 1 * *"
+
+jobs:
+  deploy:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    container: obolibrary/odkfull:v1.5
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout main branch
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
+      - name: work around permission issue
+        run: git config --global --add safe.directory "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE"
+        
+      - name: Get current date
+        id: date
+        run: echo "::set-output name=date::$(date +'%Y-%m-%d')"
+      
+      - name: Update release files
+        run: cd src/ontology/ && make prepare_release -B
+      
+      - name: Run release
+        uses: gaoDean/action-gh-release@6b61bb5648ddc1241deb73ea6b72c3a1e1f9e445
+        with:
+          generate_release_notes: true
+          draft: true
+          tag_name: v${{ steps.date.outputs.date }}
+          files: |
+            scdo.owl
+            scdo.obo
+            mappings/scdo-sssom-xrefs.tsv
diff --git a/src/ontology/Makefile b/src/ontology/Makefile
index 796a3b5..8f998eb 100644
--- a/src/ontology/Makefile
+++ b/src/ontology/Makefile
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@ all: sparql_test $(ONT).owl $(ONT).obo $(ONT)_hpo_merged.owl scdo_hp_bridge.owl
 test: sparql_test all
 
 prepare_release: all
-	cp $(ONT).owl scdo_hpo_merged.owl $(RELEASEDIR) &&\
-	mkdir -p $(RELEASEDIR)/imports $(RELEASEDIR)/mappings &&\
-	cp imports/*.owl $(RELEASEDIR)/imports &&\
-	cp mappings/*.tsv $(RELEASEDIR)/mappings &&\
-	git add $(RELEASEDIR)/imports/*.owl &&\
+	mkdir -p $(RELEASEDIR)/
+	cp $(ONT).owl scdo_hpo_merged.owl $(RELEASEDIR)
+	mkdir -p $(RELEASEDIR)/imports $(RELEASEDIR)/mappings
+	cp imports/*.owl $(RELEASEDIR)/imports
+	cp mappings/*.tsv $(RELEASEDIR)/mappings
 	echo "Release files are now in $(RELEASEDIR) - now you should commit, push and make a release on github"
 
 # ----------------------------------------