diff --git a/scripts/release.sh b/scripts/release.sh
index d57ff49ef85..593b371d36d 100755
--- a/scripts/release.sh
+++ b/scripts/release.sh
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ main() {
   if [ ! -d "${reldir}/etcd" ] && [ "${IN_PLACE}" == 0 ]; then
     mkdir -p "${reldir}"
     cd "${reldir}"
-    git clone "${REPOSITORY}" --branch "${BRANCH}"
+    git clone "${REPOSITORY}" --branch "${BRANCH}" --depth 1
     cd "${reldir}/etcd" || exit 2
     git checkout "${BRANCH}" || exit 2
     git pull origin