diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2a9320b..07afc90 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -41,13 +41,14 @@ options:
 NOTE: the `--bump` option will also update the pull request commit status to mark the branch as 'pending peer review'.
 This setting is cleared when a reviewer approves or rejects the pull request.
 
-## git release
+## git release <feature_branch_name (optional, default: current_branch)
 
-release the current feature branch to master.  This operation will perform the following:
+release the feature branch to master.  This operation will perform the following:
 
-* pull in latest code from remote branch
-* merge in latest code from master branch
+* pull latest code from remote feature branch
+* pull latest code from master branch
 * prompt user to confirm they actually want to perform the release
+* check if pull request commit status is currently successful
 * merge current branch into master
 * (optional) cleanup merged branches from remote server
 
diff --git a/lib/thegarage/gitx/cli/release_command.rb b/lib/thegarage/gitx/cli/release_command.rb
index 327be2d..49521f7 100644
--- a/lib/thegarage/gitx/cli/release_command.rb
+++ b/lib/thegarage/gitx/cli/release_command.rb
@@ -14,11 +14,12 @@ class ReleaseCommand < BaseCommand
 
         desc 'release', 'release the current branch to production'
         method_option :cleanup, :type => :boolean, :desc => 'cleanup merged branches after release'
-        def release
+        def release(branch = nil)
           return unless yes?("Release #{current_branch.name} to production? (y/n)", :green)
 
-          branch = current_branch.name
+          branch ||= current_branch.name
           assert_not_protected_branch!(branch, 'release')
+          checkout_branch(branch)
           execute_command(UpdateCommand, :update)
 
           find_or_create_pull_request(branch)
diff --git a/spec/thegarage/gitx/cli/release_command_spec.rb b/spec/thegarage/gitx/cli/release_command_spec.rb
index d77ea6f..84b3f13 100644
--- a/spec/thegarage/gitx/cli/release_command_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/thegarage/gitx/cli/release_command_spec.rb
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
         expect(cli).to receive(:yes?).and_return(true)
         allow(cli).to receive(:authorization_token).and_return(authorization_token)
 
+        expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git checkout feature-branch").ordered
         expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git checkout master").ordered
         expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git pull origin master").ordered
         expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git merge --no-ff feature-branch").ordered
@@ -74,6 +75,29 @@
         should meet_expectations
       end
     end
+    context 'when target_branch is not nil and user confirms release and pull request exists with success status' do
+      before do
+        expect(cli).to receive(:execute_command).with(Thegarage::Gitx::Cli::UpdateCommand, :update)
+        expect(cli).to receive(:execute_command).with(Thegarage::Gitx::Cli::IntegrateCommand, :integrate, 'staging')
+        expect(cli).to_not receive(:execute_command).with(Thegarage::Gitx::Cli::CleanupCommand, :cleanup)
+
+        expect(cli).to receive(:yes?).and_return(true)
+        allow(cli).to receive(:authorization_token).and_return(authorization_token)
+
+        expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git checkout feature-branch").ordered
+        expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git checkout master").ordered
+        expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git pull origin master").ordered
+        expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git merge --no-ff feature-branch").ordered
+        expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git push origin HEAD").ordered
+
+        VCR.use_cassette('pull_request_does_exist_with_success_status') do
+          cli.release 'feature-branch'
+        end
+      end
+      it 'runs expected commands' do
+        should meet_expectations
+      end
+    end
     context 'when user confirms release and pull request does not exist' do
       let(:new_pull_request) do
         {
@@ -96,6 +120,7 @@
         expect(cli).to receive(:yes?).with('Release feature-branch to production? (y/n)', :green).and_return(true)
         expect(cli).to receive(:yes?).with('Branch status is currently: pending.  Proceed with release? (y/n)', :red).and_return(true)
 
+        expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git checkout feature-branch").ordered
         expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git checkout feature-branch").ordered
         expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git log master...feature-branch --reverse --no-merges --pretty=format:'* %s%n%b'").and_return("2013-01-01 did some stuff").ordered
         expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git checkout master").ordered
@@ -129,6 +154,7 @@
         expect(cli).to receive(:yes?).and_return(true)
         allow(cli).to receive(:authorization_token).and_return(authorization_token)
 
+        expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git checkout feature-branch").ordered
         expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git checkout master").ordered
         expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git pull origin master").ordered
         expect(cli).to receive(:run_cmd).with("git merge --no-ff feature-branch").ordered