diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 8892d4390..6430c9776 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ release-test:
 	python3 -m pytest -qq
 	check-manifest
 	pyroma .
-	viewdoc
+	$(MAKE) readme
 
 .PHONY: sdist
 sdist:
@@ -108,4 +108,4 @@ test:
 
 .PHONY: readme
 readme:
-	viewdoc
+	python3 setup.py --long-description | markdown2 > .long-description.html && open .long-description.html
diff --git a/RELEASING.md b/RELEASING.md
index db7b22445..7b2e62942 100644
--- a/RELEASING.md
+++ b/RELEASING.md
@@ -18,12 +18,17 @@ Released quarterly on January 2nd, April 1st, July 1st and October 15th.
   git push --all
   git push --tags
   ```
-* [ ] Create source distributions e.g.:
+* [ ] Create and check source distribution:
   ```bash
   make sdist
+  twine check dist/*
   ```
 * [ ] Create [binary distributions](https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/blob/master/RELEASING.md#binary-distributions)
-* [ ] Upload all binaries and source distributions e.g. `twine upload dist/Pillow-5.2.0*`
+* [ ] Check and upload all binaries and source distributions e.g.:
+  ```bash
+  twine check dist/*
+  twine upload dist/Pillow-5.2.0*
+  ```
 * [ ] Publish the [release on GitHub](https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/releases)
 * [ ] In compliance with [PEP 440](https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0440/), increment and append `.dev0` to version identifier in `src/PIL/_version.py`
 
@@ -50,12 +55,17 @@ Released as needed for security, installation or critical bug fixes.
   git push
   git push --tags
   ```
-* [ ] Create source distributions e.g.:
+* [ ] Create and check source distribution:
   ```bash
   make sdist
+  twine check dist/*
   ```
 * [ ] Create [binary distributions](https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/blob/master/RELEASING.md#binary-distributions)
-* [ ] Upload all binaries and source distributions e.g. `twine upload dist/Pillow-5.2.1*`
+* [ ] Check and upload all binaries and source distributions e.g.:
+  ```bash
+  twine check dist/*
+  twine upload dist/Pillow-5.2.1*
+  ```
 * [ ] Publish the [release on GitHub](https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/releases)
 
 ## Embargoed Release
@@ -75,9 +85,10 @@ Released as needed privately to individual vendors for critical security-related
   git push origin 2.5.x
   git push origin --tags
   ```
-* [ ] Create source distributions e.g.:
+* [ ] Create and check source distribution:
   ```bash
   make sdist
+  twine check dist/*
   ```
 * [ ] Create [binary distributions](https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/blob/master/RELEASING.md#binary-distributions)
 * [ ] Publish the [release on GitHub](https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/releases)
@@ -86,7 +97,7 @@ Released as needed privately to individual vendors for critical security-related
 
 ### Windows
 * [ ] Contact `@cgohlke` for Windows binaries via release ticket e.g. https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/issues/1174.
-* [ ] Download and extract tarball from `@cgohlke` and `twine upload *`.
+* [ ] Download and extract tarball from `@cgohlke` and copy into `dist/`
 
 ### Mac and Linux
 * [ ] Use the [Pillow Wheel Builder](https://github.com/python-pillow/pillow-wheels):
@@ -95,7 +106,8 @@ Released as needed privately to individual vendors for critical security-related
   cd pillow-wheels
   ./update-pillow-tag.sh [[release tag]]
   ```
-* [ ] Download wheels from the [Pillow Wheel Builder release](https://github.com/python-pillow/pillow-wheels/releases).
+* [ ] Download wheels from the [Pillow Wheel Builder release](https://github.com/python-pillow/pillow-wheels/releases)
+  and copy into `dist/`
 
 ## Publicize Release
 
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index b43a0e5a7..1ed1356f9 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 black
 check-manifest
 coverage
-jarn.viewdoc
+markdown2
 olefile
 packaging
 pyroma