diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index a08df7cb8..6f5d07ff3 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-1.6.5.dev0
+1.6.5
  * #553: Fix logging to include the full traceback when Borg experiences an internal error, not just
    the first few lines.
  * #554: Fix all monitoring hooks to warn if the server returns an HTTP 4xx error. This can happen
diff --git a/scripts/release b/scripts/release
index 1ec14dbb7..22e20175b 100755
--- a/scripts/release
+++ b/scripts/release
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ fi
 if ! git diff-index --quiet HEAD -- ; then
     echo "Refusing to release with local changes:"
     git status --porcelain
+    exit 1
 fi
 
 git tag $version
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 393a9cb06..679c035a3 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from setuptools import find_packages, setup
 
-VERSION = '1.6.5.dev0'
+VERSION = '1.6.5'
 
 
 setup(