diff --git a/prepareRelease.go b/prepareRelease.go
index 45ecfe1..70d829b 100644
--- a/prepareRelease.go
+++ b/prepareRelease.go
@@ -50,10 +50,9 @@ func makePrepareRelease() {
 			continue
 		}
 
+		// run go-mod-clean on every repo to start
 		if !runGoClean(check) {
 			log.Info("go-mod-clean FAILED. THIS IS BAD.", check.GoPath)
-			log.Info("go-mod-clean FAILED. THIS IS BAD.", check.GoPath)
-			log.Info("go-mod-clean FAILED. THIS IS BAD.", check.GoPath)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -71,19 +70,32 @@ func makePrepareRelease() {
 		if master != lastTag {
 			// if v1.2.3 change to v.1.2.4
 			check.IncrementTargetRevision()
+			if !runGoClean(check) {
+				log.Info("go-mod-clean FAILED. THIS IS BAD.", check.GoPath)
+			}
 			continue
 		}
 
 		// if the repo is a go binary, try forcing new go.* files
-		if check.RepoType() == "binary" {
-			// check if the package dependancies changed, if so, re-publish
-			if me.forge.FinalGoDepsCheckOk(check) {
-				log.Printf("go.sum is perfect! %s\n", check.GetGoPath())
-			} else {
-				log.Printf("dependancy checks indicate a new release is needed for %s\n", check.GetGoPath())
-				// if v1.2.3 change to v.1.2.4
-				check.IncrementTargetRevision()
-			}
+		if check.RepoType() != "binary" {
+			// master and lasttag match and it's not a binary. everything is fine
+			continue
+		}
+		// check if the package dependancies changed, if so, re-publish
+		if me.forge.FinalGoDepsCheckOk(check) {
+			log.Printf("go.sum is perfect! %s\n", check.GetGoPath())
+			continue
+		}
+		log.Printf("dependancy checks indicate a new release is needed for %s\n", check.GetGoPath())
+		// if v1.2.3 change to v.1.2.4
+		check.IncrementTargetRevision()
+		// run go-mod-clean in each repo that needs to be updated
+		if master == lastTag {
+			// 'git notes' has something in it. clear it out
+			check.Run([]string{"git", "notes", "remove"})
+		}
+		if !runGoClean(check) {
+			log.Info("go-mod-clean FAILED. THIS IS BAD.", check.GoPath)
 		}
 
 	}