diff --git a/devscripts/create-github-release.py b/devscripts/create-github-release.py
index 3b8021e74a..30716ad8ed 100644
--- a/devscripts/create-github-release.py
+++ b/devscripts/create-github-release.py
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 import base64
+import io
 import json
 import mimetypes
 import netrc
 import optparse
 import os
+import re
 import sys
 
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
@@ -90,16 +92,23 @@ def create_asset(self, release_id, asset):
 
 
 def main():
-    parser = optparse.OptionParser(usage='%prog VERSION BUILDPATH')
+    parser = optparse.OptionParser(usage='%prog CHANGELOG VERSION BUILDPATH')
     options, args = parser.parse_args()
-    if len(args) != 2:
+    if len(args) != 3:
         parser.error('Expected a version and a build directory')
 
-    version, build_path = args
+    changelog_file, version, build_path = args
+
+    with io.open(changelog_file, encoding='utf-8') as inf:
+        changelog = inf.read()
+
+    mobj = re.search(r'(?s)version %s\n{2}(.+?)\n{3}' % version, changelog)
+    body = mobj.group(1) if mobj else ''
 
     releaser = GitHubReleaser()
 
-    new_release = releaser.create_release(version, name='youtube-dl %s' % version)
+    new_release = releaser.create_release(
+        version, name='youtube-dl %s' % version, body=body)
     release_id = new_release['id']
 
     for asset in os.listdir(build_path):
diff --git a/devscripts/release.sh b/devscripts/release.sh
index 1af61aa0be..4db5def5d8 100755
--- a/devscripts/release.sh
+++ b/devscripts/release.sh
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ RELEASE_FILES="youtube-dl youtube-dl.exe youtube-dl-$version.tar.gz"
 for f in $RELEASE_FILES; do gpg --passphrase-repeat 5 --detach-sig "build/$version/$f"; done
 
 ROOT=$(pwd)
-python devscripts/create-github-release.py $version "$ROOT/build/$version"
+python devscripts/create-github-release.py ChangeLog $version "$ROOT/build/$version"
 
 ssh ytdl@yt-dl.org "sh html/update_latest.sh $version"