diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release-runtime.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release-runtime.md
index 8ebce6ff153..055326f0a11 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release-runtime.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release-runtime.md
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ title: Release Checklist for Runtime {{ env.VERSION }}
 
 # Release Checklist - Runtimes
 
+**All** following checks must be completed before publishing a new release.
+The release process is owned and led by @paritytech/release-engineering team.
+The checks marked with :crab: are meant to be checked by [a runtime engineer](https://github.com/paritytech/cumulus/issues/1761).
+
 ## Runtimes Release
 
 ### Codebase
@@ -13,19 +17,17 @@ These checks should be performed on the codebase.
 
 - [ ] the [`spec_version`](https://github.com/paritytech/cumulus/blob/master/docs/release.md#spec-version) has been incremented since the
     last release for any native runtimes from any existing use on public (non-private/test) networks
-- [ ] previously [completed migrations](https://github.com/paritytech/cumulus/blob/master/docs/release.md#old-migrations-removed) are
-    removed for any public (non-private/test) networks
-- [ ] No migrations added in the last release that would need to be removed
+- [ ] :crab: previously [completed migrations](https://github.com/paritytech/cumulus/blob/master/docs/release.md#old-migrations-removed) are removed for any public (non-private/test) networks
 - [ ] pallet and [extrinsic ordering](https://github.com/paritytech/cumulus/blob/master/docs/release.md#extrinsic-ordering--storage) as well as `SignedExtension`s have stayed
     the same. Bump `transaction_version` otherwise
 - [ ] the [benchmarks](https://github.com/paritytech/ci_cd/wiki/Benchmarks:-cumulus) ran
 - [ ] the weights have been updated for any modified runtime logic
-- [ ] the various pieces of XCM config are sane
+- [ ] :crab: the new weights are sane, there are no significant (>50%) drops or rises with no reason
+- [ ] :crab: XCM config is compatible with the configurations and versions of relevant interlocutors, like the Relay Chain.
 
 ### On the release branch
 
-The following checks can be performed after we have forked off to the release-
-candidate branch or started an additional release candidate branch (rc-2, rc-3, etc)
+The following checks can be performed after we have forked off to the release-candidate branch or started an additional release candidate branch (rc-2, rc-3, etc)
 
 - [ ] Verify [new migrations](https://github.com/paritytech/cumulus/blob/master/docs/release.md#new-migrations) complete successfully, and the
     runtime state is correctly updated for any public (non-private/test)
@@ -41,6 +43,10 @@ candidate branch or started an additional release candidate branch (rc-2, rc-3,
 - [ ] Check that [build artifacts](https://github.com/paritytech/cumulus/blob/master/docs/release.md#build-artifacts) have been added to the
     draft-release.
 
+# Post release
+
+- [ ] :crab: all commits (runtime version bumps, fixes) on this release branch have been merged back to master.
+
 ---
 
 Read more about the [release documentation](https://github.com/paritytech/cumulus/blob/master/docs/release.md).