diff --git a/release.sh b/release.sh
index 156bc54..9f8afb2 100755
--- a/release.sh
+++ b/release.sh
@@ -122,12 +122,13 @@ output
 output "${normal}You are about to push:"
 for b in "${allbranches[@]}" ; do
     versionpath=version.php
-    if [ ! -f $versionpath ]; then
+    git cat-file -e origin/${b}:$versionpath > /dev/null 2>&1
+    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
         versionpath=public/version.php
     fi
 
     # Search for a 'real' release by ensuring the top commit on version.php changes $release and was recent.
-    releasebumped=$(git show --since='8 hours ago' -n1 origin/${b} $versionpath | grep "+\$release\s*=\s*")
+    releasebumped=$(git show --since='8 hours ago' -n1 origin/${b} -- $versionpath | grep "+\$release\s*=\s*")
     if [[ -n ${releasebumped} || $_skip_version_check ]]; then
         output "${G}$b: ${normal}$(git log -n1 --pretty=format:"%s (%an %ar)" origin/$b)"
         # Check if between the last commit in the branch and now, it has been PUBLISHING_TIME (UTC)