diff --git a/scripts/release/find_latest_tag.js b/scripts/release/find_latest_tag.js
index 4193c327dc6..dac5e0999e9 100644
--- a/scripts/release/find_latest_tag.js
+++ b/scripts/release/find_latest_tag.js
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@ const execute = require('../utils/execute');
 const [ version ] = process.argv.slice(2);
 
 if (!version) {
-  console.log('usage example: yarn node find_latest_tag.js v0.21.0');
+  console.error('usage example: yarn node find_latest_tag.js v0.21.0');
   process.exit(1);
 }
 
 (async () => {
-  const tags = (await execute('git tag -l --sort=-v:refname'));
+  const tags = await execute('git tag -l --sort=-v:refname');
 
   const isPrerelease = semver.prerelease(version) !== null;
   const parsedVersion = semver.parse(version);
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ if (!version) {
   }
 
   if (!result) {
-    console.log(`Can't find latest tag for the version ${version}`);
+    console.error(`Can't find latest tag for the version ${version}`);
     process.exit(1);
   }
 
diff --git a/scripts/release/release.sh b/scripts/release/release.sh
index 005433159ef..7b6ace1a52f 100755
--- a/scripts/release/release.sh
+++ b/scripts/release/release.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,29 @@ DIR="$( cd -P "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd )"
 # get current version
 PACKAGE_VERSION=$(cat $DIR/../../package.json|grep version|head -1|awk -F: '{ print $2 }'|sed 's/[", ]//g')
 
-RELEASE_TYPE="$1"
+cmd_usage="Usage: yarn release [options]
+
+  Options:
+  -t          --type                                        - release or prerelease
+  -f          --from                                        - tag to build changelog from
+  -h          --help                                        - show help
+"
+
+for i in "$@"
+do
+case ${i} in
+    -h|--help)
+        echo "$cmd_usage"
+        exit 0
+    ;;
+    -t=*|--type=*)
+      RELEASE_TYPE="${i#*=}"
+    ;;
+    -f=*|--from=*)
+      LATEST_TAG="${i#*=}"
+    ;;
+esac
+done
 
 # if parameter is empty, get release type from current version
 if [ -z "$RELEASE_TYPE" ]
@@ -23,7 +45,7 @@ fi
 
 if [[ $RELEASE_TYPE != "release" ]] && [[ $RELEASE_TYPE != "prerelease" ]]
 then
-  echo "release or prerelease are the only acceptable options"
+  echo cmd_usage
   exit 1
 fi
 
@@ -44,8 +66,11 @@ yarn node $DIR/bump_version.js "$RELEASE_TYPE"
 
 NEW_PACKAGE_VERSION=$(cat $DIR/../../package.json|grep version|head -1|awk -F: '{ print $2 }'|sed 's/[", ]//g')
 
-# get last tag for changelog
-LATEST_TAG=$(yarn node $DIR/find_latest_tag.js $NEW_PACKAGE_VERSION)
+if [ -z "$LATEST_TAG" ]
+then
+  # get last tag for changelog
+  LATEST_TAG=$(yarn node $DIR/find_latest_tag.js $NEW_PACKAGE_VERSION)
+fi
 
 # generate changelog
 yarn node $DIR/generate_changelog.js $LATEST_TAG