diff --git a/doc/HOWTO-RELEASE b/doc/HOWTO-RELEASE
index a8763c8..fd84bc7 100644
--- a/doc/HOWTO-RELEASE
+++ b/doc/HOWTO-RELEASE
@@ -62,6 +62,14 @@ Release procedure
 
     git tag -s $version -m "Release $version"
 
+- Run ./Build dist
+
+- Upload the resulting Stow-v7.8.9.tar.gz to CPAN via https://pause.perl.org/
+
+- Wait until PAUSE has accepted the upload as a valid module.
+  This provides some valuable final validation, as shown by the
+  non-release of 2.2.1.
+
 - Push HEAD and tag to savannah and GitHub:
 
     git push savannah
@@ -96,10 +104,6 @@ Release procedure
     # Then commit
     cvs commit -m 'Update manual to v7.8.9'
 
-- Run ./Build dist
-
-- Upload the resulting Stow-v7.8.9.tar.gz to CPAN via https://pause.perl.org/
-
 - Upload to ftp.gnu.org.  This is easiest using gnupload:
 
     - git clone git://git.savannah.gnu.org/gnulib.git