diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 4a7f74f..8f77957 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 # specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 
+release.properties
+*.releaseBackup
 /target/
 *.class
 .classpath
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index f5aec67..e628745 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -255,11 +255,13 @@
 				<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
 				<artifactId>maven-release-plugin</artifactId>
 				<version>2.5.3</version>
+				<configuration>
+          			<tagNameFormat>{project.version}</tagNameFormat>
+        		</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 		</plugins>
 	</build>
 
-
 	<!-- coverage configuration -->
 	<profiles>
 		<profile>