diff --git a/R/auto.R b/R/auto.R
index c83d1081..6466f4c0 100644
--- a/R/auto.R
+++ b/R/auto.R
@@ -51,25 +51,32 @@ plan_release <- function(
   }
 
   local_options(usethis.quiet = TRUE)
-  with_repo(plan_release_impl(which, force))
+  local_repo()
+
+  plan_release_impl(which, force)
 }
 
 plan_release_impl <- function(which, force) {
   # Checking if it's an orphan branch: https://github.com/r-lib/gert/issues/139
   stopifnot(get_branch_name() != "HEAD")
 
-  # Do we need bump_version() first?
-  if (!no_change()) {
-    cli_abort(c(
-      "Aborting release process because not all changes were recorded.",
-      i = "Run {.run fledge::bump_version()}, then rerun {.run fledge::plan_release()}"
-    ))
-  }
-
   # Check PAT early
   check_gh_pat("repo")
 
-  fledgeling <- read_fledgling()
+  orig_fledgeling <- read_fledgling()
+
+  fledgeling <- update_news_impl(
+    default_commit_range(),
+    which = "dev",
+    fledgeling = orig_fledgeling,
+    no_change_message = NA_character_
+  )
+
+  if (!identical(fledgeling, orig_fledgeling)) {
+    write_fledgling(fledgeling)
+    finalize_version_impl(push = TRUE)
+  }
+
   new_version <- fledge_guess_version(fledgeling[["version"]], which)
 
   if (!force) {
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/auto-full-cycle.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/auto-full-cycle.md
index 1f8a441c..a75b8c95 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/auto-full-cycle.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/auto-full-cycle.md
@@ -3,7 +3,24 @@
     Code
       plan_release("next")
     Message
-      > Digesting messages from 1 commits.
+      > Digesting messages from 3 commits.
+      v Found 1 NEWS-worthy entry.
+      
+      -- Updating NEWS --
+      
+      > Adding new entries to 'NEWS.md'.
+      
+      -- Updating Version --
+      
+      v Package version bumped to 0.0.0.9001.
+      > Added header to 'NEWS.md'.
+      > Committing changes.
+      
+      -- Tagging Version --
+      
+      > Creating tag v0.0.0.9001 with tag message derived from 'NEWS.md'.
+      > Pushing main.
+      > Force-pushing tag v0.0.0.9001.
     Output
       +------------------+
       |                  |
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/auto-pre.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/auto-pre.md
index abbcf145..a9d47027 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/auto-pre.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/auto-pre.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
     Code
       plan_release("next")
     Message
-      > Digesting messages from 1 commits.
+      > Digesting messages from 2 commits.
     Output
       +------------------+
       |                  |
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/auto.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/auto.md
index 0f86b4e0..78a81927 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/auto.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/auto.md
@@ -17,36 +17,6 @@
       Error in `gert::git_branch_create()`:
       ! Failed to find git reference 'blop'
 
-# plan_release() works
-
-    Code
-      plan_release("next")
-    Message
-      > Digesting messages from 1 commits.
-    Output
-      +------------------+
-      |                  |
-      |   plan_release   |
-      |                  |
-      +------------------+
-    Message
-      
-      -- 1. Creating a release branch and getting ready ------------------------------
-      > Creating branch cran-0.0.1.
-      > Switching to branch cran-0.0.1.
-      > Committing changes.
-      
-      -- 2. Opening Pull Request for release branch ----------------------------------
-      > Pushing cran-0.0.1 to remote origin.
-      > Opening draft pull request with contents from 'cran-comments.md'.
-      
-      -- 3. User Action Items --------------------------------------------------------
-      * Run `devtools::check_win_devel()`.
-      * Run `urlchecker::url_update()`.
-      * Check all items in 'cran-comments.md'.
-      * Review 'NEWS.md'.
-      * Run `fledge::release()`.
-
 # plan_release() -- force
 
     Code
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-auto-full-cycle.R b/tests/testthat/test-auto-full-cycle.R
index d3d3600b..2758d47f 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-auto-full-cycle.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-auto-full-cycle.R
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ test_that("full cycle", {
   gert::git_commit("* Add cool bla.")
 
   local_fledge_quiet()
-  bump_version()
-  finalize_version(push = TRUE)
+
+  # Deliberately without bump_version()
 
   ## init release ----
   withr::local_envvar("FLEDGE_TEST_NOGH" = "no-github-no-mocking-needed-yay")
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-auto-pre.R b/tests/testthat/test-auto-pre.R
index 102d0bd3..eb4a52c3 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-auto-pre.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-auto-pre.R
@@ -26,9 +26,8 @@ test_that("plan_release() works", {
   tempdir_remote <- withr::local_tempdir(pattern = "remote")
   create_remote(tempdir_remote)
 
-  ## TODO: add test for bump_version() not run?
   local_fledge_quiet()
-  bump_version()
+
   expect_fledge_snapshot({
     plan_release("next")
   })
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-auto.R b/tests/testthat/test-auto.R
index 5205f880..592a4e7c 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-auto.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-auto.R
@@ -49,23 +49,6 @@ test_that("create_release_branch() works", {
   })
 })
 
-test_that("plan_release() works", {
-  withr::local_envvar("FLEDGE_TEST_NOGH" = "blop")
-  withr::local_envvar("FLEDGE_DONT_BOTHER_CRAN_THIS_IS_A_TEST" = "yes-a-test")
-  local_demo_project(quiet = TRUE)
-
-  tempdir_remote <- withr::local_tempdir(pattern = "remote")
-  create_remote(tempdir_remote)
-
-  local_fledge_quiet()
-  bump_version()
-
-  expect_fledge_snapshot({
-    plan_release("next")
-  })
-  expect_true(gert::git_branch_exists("cran-0.0.1"))
-})
-
 test_that("plan_release() -- force", {
   withr::local_envvar("FLEDGE_TEST_NOGH" = "blop")
   withr::local_envvar("FLEDGE_DONT_BOTHER_CRAN_THIS_IS_A_TEST" = "yes-a-test")