diff --git a/x230/NEWS b/x230/NEWS
index a873ac2..bab346a 100644
--- a/x230/NEWS
+++ b/x230/NEWS
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
 
+skulls-x230 0.0.12 - unreleased
+----------------------------------------
+This release includes the following changes:
+* simplify unpacking the release archive by including a directory
+
+
 skulls-x230 0.0.11 - released 2018-11-05
 ----------------------------------------
 This release includes the following changes:
diff --git a/x230/README.md b/x230/README.md
index 48111ee..4402ff9 100644
--- a/x230/README.md
+++ b/x230/README.md
@@ -165,9 +165,8 @@ based supply for a second USB port (like [this](https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1
 #### unpack the Skulls release archive
 
 
-	mkdir skulls
-	tar -xf skulls-x230-<version>.tar.xz -C skulls
-	cd skulls
+	tar -xf skulls-x230-<version>.tar.xz
+	cd skulls-x230-<version>
 
 
 #### ifd unlock and me_cleaner: the 8MB chip
diff --git a/x230/release.sh b/x230/release.sh
index cfe6ea9..e22638b 100755
--- a/x230/release.sh
+++ b/x230/release.sh
@@ -98,37 +98,33 @@ if [ ! "$filesize" -eq "$reference_filesize" ] ; then
 	exit 1
 fi
 
+RELEASE_DIR="skulls-x230-${version}"
+rm -rf "$RELEASE_DIR"
+mkdir -p "$RELEASE_DIR"
+
 # copy-in the ROM
-cp "${RELEASE_IMAGE}" .
+cp "${RELEASE_IMAGE}" "$RELEASE_DIR"
+
 RELEASE_IMAGE_FILE=$(basename "${RELEASE_IMAGE}")
-sha256sum ${RELEASE_IMAGE_FILE} > "${RELEASE_IMAGE_FILE}.sha256"
-
-# copy-in device independent stuff
-cp ../SOURCE.md .
-
-tar -cJf skulls-x230-"${version}".tar.xz \
-	README.md \
-	NEWS \
-	util \
-	LICENSE* \
-	skulls_common.sh \
-	x230_before_first_install.sh \
-	x230_skulls.sh \
-	x230_heads.sh \
-	external_install_bottom.sh \
-	external_install_top.sh \
+sha256sum ${RELEASE_DIR}/${RELEASE_IMAGE_FILE} > "${RELEASE_DIR}/${RELEASE_IMAGE_FILE}.sha256"
+
+# copy in device independent stuff
+cp ../SOURCE.md "$RELEASE_DIR"
+
+# copy in x230 stuff
+cp -a README.md NEWS util LICENSE* skulls_common.sh \
+	x230_before_first_install.sh x230_skulls.sh x230_heads.sh \
+	external_install_bottom.sh external_install_top.sh \
 	upgrade.sh \
-	SOURCE.md \
-	"${RELEASE_IMAGE_FILE}" \
-	"${RELEASE_IMAGE_FILE}.sha256"
+	"$RELEASE_DIR"
+
+tar -cJf "$RELEASE_DIR".tar.xz "$RELEASE_DIR"
 
-rm "${RELEASE_IMAGE_FILE}"
-rm "${RELEASE_IMAGE_FILE}.sha256"
-rm SOURCE.md
+rm -rf "$RELEASE_DIR"
 
 git commit -a -m "update to ${version}"
 git tag -s "${version}" -m "skulls-x230 ${version}"
 
-sha256sum skulls-x230-"${version}".tar.xz > skulls-x230-"${version}".tar.xz.sha256
-sha512sum skulls-x230-"${version}".tar.xz > skulls-x230-"${version}".tar.xz.sha512
-gpg -b -a skulls-x230-"${version}".tar.xz
+sha256sum "$RELEASE_DIR".tar.xz > "$RELEASE_DIR".tar.xz.sha256
+sha512sum "$RELEASE_DIR".tar.xz > "$RELEASE_DIR".tar.xz.sha512
+gpg -b -a "$RELEASE_DIR".tar.xz