diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 2e97b83..5958484 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -37,4 +37,15 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
 
     const run_step = b.step("run", "Run the cli");
     run_step.dependOn(&run_cmd.step);
+
+    // Release step
+    const release_step = b.step("release", "Run release script");
+    const release_exe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "release",
+        .root_source_file = b.path("scripts/release.zig"),
+        .target = target,
+        .optimize = optimize,
+    });
+    const release_cmd = b.addRunArtifact(release_exe);
+    release_step.dependOn(&release_cmd.step);
 }
diff --git a/deno.json b/deno.json
index 469af8b..1ac9358 100644
--- a/deno.json
+++ b/deno.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     "fmt": "zig fmt . && deno fmt",
     "fmt:check": "zig fmt . --check && deno fmt --check",
     "build": "zig build -Dtarget=x86_64-windows-msvc -Doptimize=ReleaseSmall",
-    "release": "deno task build && zig run ./scripts/release.zig",
+    "release": "zig build release",
     "check:hash": "certutil -hashfile dist/rb-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.zip SHA256"
   },
   "fmt": {
diff --git a/scripts/release.zig b/scripts/release.zig
index 083389b..221b1ac 100644
--- a/scripts/release.zig
+++ b/scripts/release.zig
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     // Format version.zon
     try formatVersionZon(allocator);
 
+    // Build the project
+    try buildProject(allocator);
+
     // Create dist directory
     try fs.cwd().makePath("dist");
 
@@ -73,6 +76,17 @@ fn formatVersionZon(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !void {
     _ = try child.spawnAndWait();
 }
 
+fn buildProject(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !void {
+    const argv = [_][]const u8{
+        "zig",
+        "build",
+        "-Dtarget=x86_64-windows-msvc",
+        "-Doptimize=ReleaseSmall",
+    };
+    var child = std.process.Child.init(&argv, allocator);
+    _ = try child.spawnAndWait();
+}
+
 fn compressBinary(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !void {
     const argv = [_][]const u8{
         "powershell",