diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a8011e10..7c909810 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 CHANGELOG
 =========
 
-7.0.0 (unreleased)
+7.0.0 (2026-06-29)
 ------------------
 
 * **Breaking** Dropped support for Node.js 18 and 20. Node.js 22 or greater is now
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d834ecdd..2b9a74ce 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -420,6 +420,6 @@ client API, please contact [MaxMind support for assistance](https://support.maxm
 
 ## Copyright and License
 
-This software is Copyright (c) 2018-2025 by MaxMind, Inc.
+This software is Copyright (c) 2018-2026 by MaxMind, Inc.
 
 This is free software, licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
diff --git a/dev-bin/release.sh b/dev-bin/release.sh
index f7a30046..ba5893b6 100755
--- a/dev-bin/release.sh
+++ b/dev-bin/release.sh
@@ -91,6 +91,15 @@ if [ "$current_version" != "$version" ]; then
     npm version "$version" --no-git-tag-version
 fi
 
+# Verify package.json is now at the target version. This distinguishes the
+# benign "already bumped" case (nothing to commit) from a version update that
+# silently failed to take effect.
+actual_version=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
+if [ "$actual_version" != "$version" ]; then
+    echo "Error: package.json version is $actual_version but expected $version." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 # Build and test
 echo "Running build and tests..."
 npm ci
@@ -111,7 +120,11 @@ if [ "$should_continue" != "y" ]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
-git commit -m "Prepare for $version" -a
+if [ -n "$(git status --porcelain)" ]; then
+    git commit -m "Prepare for $version" -a
+else
+    echo "No changes to commit; package.json is already at version $version."
+fi
 
 git push