diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
index 5ef2deeb88..25dceb629e 100644
--- a/GNUmakefile
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -131,7 +131,10 @@ linux:
 # dist builds binaries for all platforms and packages them for distribution
 dist:
 	@$(SHELL) $(CURDIR)/build-support/scripts/release.sh -t '$(DIST_TAG)' -b '$(DIST_BUILD)' -S '$(DIST_SIGN)' $(DIST_VERSION_ARG) $(DIST_DATE_ARG) $(DIST_REL_ARG)
-	
+
+verify:
+	@$(SHELL) $(CURDIR)/build-support/scripts/verify.sh	
+
 publish:
 	@$(SHELL) $(CURDIR)/build-support/scripts/publish.sh $(PUB_GIT_ARG) $(PUB_WEBSITE_ARG)
 
diff --git a/build-support/scripts/verify.sh b/build-support/scripts/verify.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index e137aec052..c1678bd1a3
--- a/build-support/scripts/verify.sh
+++ b/build-support/scripts/verify.sh
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ function err_usage {
 
 function main {
    declare    sdir="${SOURCE_DIR}" 
-   declare    vers="$(parse_version true false)"
+   declare    vers=""
    
    while test $# -gt 0
    do
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ function main {
       esac
    done
    
+   if test -z "${vers}"
+   then
+      vers=$(parse_version "${sdir}" true false)
+   fi
+   
    status_stage "=> Starting release verification for version: ${version}"
    verify_release_build "${sdir}" "${vers}" || return 1