diff --git a/biosimulator_processes/_VERSION.py b/biosimulator_processes/_VERSION.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eead31986
--- /dev/null
+++ b/biosimulator_processes/_VERSION.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+__version__ = '0.0.5'
diff --git a/scripts/release.sh b/scripts/release.sh
index aa3b21e75..d40013d46 100755
--- a/scripts/release.sh
+++ b/scripts/release.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@
 # You must pass the version you are trying to upload to the package index as an argument to this script. For example:
 # Usage: ./release.sh 0.0.1
 
-set -e
+# CURRENT VERSION: 0.0.5
+
+# set -e
 
 version="$1"
 
@@ -20,8 +22,8 @@ fi
 # Check working directory is clean
 if [ ! -z "$(git status --untracked-files=no --porcelain)" ]; then
     echo "You have changes that have yet to be committed."
-    echo "Aborting."
-    exit 1
+    echo "Aborting PyPI upload and attempting to commit your changes."
+    scripts/commit.sh
 fi
 
 # Check that we are on main
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index b00763718..fb48d9b85 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import re
 from setuptools import setup, find_packages
-
-
-VERSION = '0.0.4'
+from biosimulator_processes._VERSION import __version__
 
 
 with open("README.md", "r") as readme:
@@ -19,7 +17,7 @@
 
 setup(
     name="biosimulator-processes",
-    version=VERSION,
+    version=__version__,
     author="Ryan Spangler, Eran Agmon, Alex Patrie",
     author_email="ryan.spangler@gmail.com, agmon.eran@gmail.com, alexanderpatrie@gmail.com",
     description="",