diff --git a/argv.go b/argv.go
index b872f80..7d57324 100644
--- a/argv.go
+++ b/argv.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ type args struct {
 	DryRun       bool   `arg:"--dry-run,env:DRYRUN"     help:"don't actually do the release"`
 	Fix          bool   `arg:"--fix"                    help:"run fixGoMod() on startup"`
 	Minor        bool   `arg:"--minor"                  help:"increment minor verion numbers"`
+	Protobuf     bool   `arg:"--protobuf"               help:"increment protobuf repos"`
 	Reason       string `arg:"--reason"                 help:"tag message"`
 	DumpVersions bool   `arg:"--dump-versions"          help:"dump the versions file for go.wit.com"`
 	Port         int    `arg:"--port"     default:"9419"         help:"do fun stuff with curl"`
diff --git a/findNext.go b/findNext.go
index 76d3c3a..a6c0ea6 100644
--- a/findNext.go
+++ b/findNext.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"strings"
+
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/repolist"
@@ -101,15 +103,23 @@ func runGoClean(check *gitpb.Repo) bool {
 	// check if the package dependancies changed, if so, re-publish
 	check.GoDeps = nil
 
-	cmd := []string{"go-mod-clean", "--strict", "--force"}
+	cmd := []string{"go-mod-clean", "--strict"}
 	log.Info("Running", cmd, "in", check.GoPath)
-	result := check.RunRealtime(cmd)
+	result := check.Run(cmd)
 	if result.Error != nil {
 		log.Info(cmd, "failed with", result.Error, check.GoPath)
+		log.Info("STDOUT")
+		log.Info(strings.Join(result.Stdout, "\n"))
+		log.Info("STDERR")
+		log.Info(strings.Join(result.Stderr, "\n"))
 		return false
 	}
 	if result.Exit != 0 {
 		log.Info(cmd, "failed with", result.Exit, check.GoPath)
+		log.Info("STDOUT")
+		log.Info(strings.Join(result.Stdout, "\n"))
+		log.Info("STDERR")
+		log.Info(strings.Join(result.Stderr, "\n"))
 		return false
 	}
 	if ok, err := check.ParseGoSum(); !ok {
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 4c8ea02..c30b73a 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func main() {
 	me.startRepo = me.forge.Repos.FindByGoPath(basedir)
 
 	// todo: add this to forgepb
-	// me.startRepo = me.forge.FindWorkingDirRepo()
+	me.startRepo = me.forge.FindWorkingDirRepo()
 
 	if me.startRepo == nil {
 		msg := fmt.Sprint("Can not run if pwd is not a repo", basedir)
diff --git a/prepareRelease.go b/prepareRelease.go
index 4c14bf5..060308d 100644
--- a/prepareRelease.go
+++ b/prepareRelease.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )
 
@@ -41,16 +42,13 @@ func makePrepareRelease() {
 		master := check.GetMasterVersion()
 		lastTag := check.GetLastTag()
 		if master != lastTag {
-			if argv.Minor {
-				// if v1.2.3 change to v.1.3.0
-				check.IncrementTargetMinor()
-			} else {
-				// 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)
-			}
+			forceReleaseVersion(check)
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if argv.Protobuf && check.RepoType() == "protobuf" {
+			// if --protobuf, this will force upgrade each one
+			forceReleaseVersion(check)
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -63,21 +61,7 @@ func makePrepareRelease() {
 				continue
 			}
 			log.Printf("dependancy checks indicate a new release is needed for %s\n", check.GetGoPath())
-			if argv.Minor {
-				// if v1.2.3 change to v.1.3.0
-				check.IncrementTargetMinor()
-			} else {
-				// 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 probably failed here. that's ok", check.GoPath)
-			}
+			forceReleaseVersion(check)
 		}
 
 	}
@@ -94,3 +78,19 @@ func makePrepareRelease() {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func forceReleaseVersion(repo *gitpb.Repo) {
+	if argv.Minor {
+		// if v1.2.3 change to v.1.3.0
+		repo.IncrementTargetMinor()
+	} else {
+		// if v1.2.3 change to v.1.2.4
+		repo.IncrementTargetRevision()
+	}
+	// empty git notes
+	repo.Run([]string{"git", "notes", "remove"})
+
+	if !runGoClean(repo) {
+		log.Info("go-mod-clean probably failed here. that's ok", repo.GoPath)
+	}
+}