diff --git a/contrib/makerel b/contrib/makerel
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..63d37ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/makerel
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+zigdir=out/zig-x86_64-linux-musl-baseline
+
+if [[ ! "$PWD" =~ /zig-bootstrap$ ]]; then
+    >&2 echo "expected to be in zig-bootstrap directory. Bailing"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+
+if [[ ! -f "$zigdir/bin/zig" ]]; then
+    >&2 echo "$zigdir/bin/zig not found. Please run:"
+    >&2 echo "    ./build -j\$(nproc) x86_64-linux-musl baseline"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+pushd "$zigdir"
+    vsn=$(bin/zig version)
+    outdir="zig-linux-x86_64-$vsn"
+    mkdir -p "$outdir"
+    cp -r "bin/zig" "$outdir"
+    cp -r "lib/zig" "$outdir/lib"
+    tar -cf "$outdir.tar" "$outdir"
+    xz -vk --fast "$outdir.tar"
+popd
+
+echo "$zigdir/$outdir.tar.xz is ready for use"
diff --git a/contrib/own_zig.md b/contrib/own_zig.md
index c7d77cb..75c5c4d 100644
--- a/contrib/own_zig.md
+++ b/contrib/own_zig.md
@@ -3,23 +3,37 @@ How to test a different version of zig
 
 Assume you want to test an unreleased version of zig. Here's how:
 
-- build zig in `build/` directory, following the official instructions.
-- pack it to something that looks like a release using this script:
+1. Clone zig-bootstrap:
 
-```bash
-#!/bin/bash
-set -xeuo pipefail
+      $ git clone https://github.com/ziglang/zig-bootstrap
+      $ cd zig-bootstrap
 
-archversion="zig-linux-x86_64-$(git describe)"
-dst="$HOME/rel/$archversion/"
-rm -fr "$dst"
-mkdir -p "$dst"/docs
-cp zig "$dst"
-cp -r ../lib "$dst"
-tar -C "$HOME/rel" -cJf "$HOME/$archversion.tar.xz" .
-```
+2. Copy over zig/ from ~/zig:
 
-- send it to jakstys.lt or your mirror.
-- point toolchain/defs.bzl to the new version.
-- run tests (probably locally, where zig was built).
-- running this on sr.ht is left as an exercise for further tests.
+      $ rm -fr zig
+      $ tar -C ~/zig archive --format=tar --prefix=zig/ master | tar -xv
+
+3. Build it (assuming `x86_64-linux`):
+
+      $ vim build  # edit ZIG_VERSION
+      $ ./build -j$(nproc) x86_64-linux-musl baseline
+
+4. Pack the release tarball:
+
+      $ ~/code/bazel-zig-cc/makerel
+
+This gives us a usable Zig SDK. Now:
+
+- Send the .tar.gz it to your mirror.
+- Point toolchain/defs.bzl to the new version.
+- Run tests.
+
+Links
+-----
+
+- [ziglang/release-cutter][1], a script that creates binaries for [ziglang.org/download][2].
+- [ziglang/zig-bootstrap][3], a set of scripts that compile a static Zig.
+
+[1]: https://github.com/ziglang/release-cutter/blob/master/script
+[2]: https://ziglang.org/download
+[3]: https://github.com/ziglang/zig-bootstrap