diff --git a/scripts/release.sh b/scripts/release.sh
index a2e0858d1..6c1362db3 100755
--- a/scripts/release.sh
+++ b/scripts/release.sh
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ main() {
   if [ ! -d "${reldir}/etcd" ] && [ "${IN_PLACE}" == 0 ]; then
     mkdir -p "${reldir}"
     cd "${reldir}"
-    run git clone "${REPOSITORY}" --branch "${BRANCH}"
+    run git clone "${REPOSITORY}" --branch "${BRANCH}" --depth 1
     run cd "${reldir}/etcd" || exit 2
     run git checkout "${BRANCH}" || exit 2
     run git pull origin