diff --git a/build/release.js b/build/release.js
index 396ddefc4..8c277d4df 100644
--- a/build/release.js
+++ b/build/release.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 // Debugging variables
 var	debug = false,
-	skipRemote = true;
+	skipRemote = false;
 
 var fs = require("fs"),
 	child = require("child_process"),
@@ -52,6 +52,13 @@ steps(
 );
 
 function initialize( next ) {
+
+	if ( process.argv[2] === "-d" ) {
+		process.argv.shift();
+		debug = true;
+		console.warn("=== DEBUG MODE ===" );
+	}
+
 	// First arg should be the version number being released
 	var newver, oldver,
 		rversion = /^(\d)\.(\d+)\.(\d)((?:a|b|rc)\d|pre)?$/,
@@ -74,9 +81,6 @@ function initialize( next ) {
 	if ( !(fs.existsSync || path.existsSync)( "package.json" ) ) {
 		die( "No package.json in this directory" );
 	}
-	if ( debug ) {
-		console.warn("=== DEBUG MODE ===" );
-	}
 	pkg = JSON.parse( fs.readFileSync( "package.json" ) );
 
 	console.log( "Current version is " + pkg.version + "; generating release " + releaseVersion );
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 96dcb1e35..d23b24cc3 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 	"name": "jquery",
 	"title": "jQuery",
 	"description": "JavaScript library for DOM operations",
-	"version": "1.8.2pre",
+	"version": "1.8.2",
 	"homepage": "http://jquery.com",
 	"author": {
 		"name": "jQuery Foundation and other contributors",