diff --git a/packages/release/src/index.js b/packages/release/src/index.js
index 098951552..b8892d8fe 100755
--- a/packages/release/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/release/src/index.js
@@ -55,6 +55,15 @@ const runProjectRootCommand = (command, force) => {
 };
 
 const checkBranchSync = () => {
+  console.log("Checking if local branch is master...");
+  const currentBranch = runProjectRootCommand("git branch --show-current");
+  if (currentBranch !== "master") {
+    console.error(
+      "Local branch is not master. Please checkout the master branch."
+    );
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
   console.log("Checking if local master branch is in sync with origin...");
 
   if (noSyncCheck) {