diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 943402a..22848d9 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -152,6 +152,23 @@ MAJOR := $(word 1,$(VERSION_PARTS))
 MINOR := $(word 2,$(VERSION_PARTS))
 PATCH := $(word 3,$(VERSION_PARTS))
 
+# Check if current branch is protected
+define check_protected_branch
+	@current_branch=$$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD); \
+	if ! echo "$(PROTECTED_BRANCH)" | grep -wq "$$current_branch"; then \
+		echo "Error: Tagging is only allowed from $(PROTECTED_BRANCH) branch. You are on $$current_branch branch."; \
+		exit 1; \
+	fi
+endef
+# Check if there are pending pulls
+define check_pending_pulls
+	@git fetch; \
+	current_branch=$$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD); \
+	if [ "$$(git rev-parse HEAD)" != "$$(git rev-parse origin/$$current_branch)" ]; then \
+		echo "Error: Your branch is not up to date with upstream. Please pull the latest changes before performing a release"; \
+		exit 1; \
+	fi
+endef
 # ====================================================================================
 # Targets
 
@@ -182,6 +199,8 @@ test: go-test ## to test
 .PHONY: patch minor major
 
 patch: ## to bump patch version (semver)
+	$(call check_protected_branch)
+	$(call check_pending_pulls)
 	@$(eval PATCH := $(shell echo $$(($(PATCH)+1))))
 	@$(INFO) Bumping $(APP_NAME) to Patch version $(MAJOR).$(MINOR).$(PATCH)
 	git tag -s -a v$(MAJOR).$(MINOR).$(PATCH) -m "Bumping $(APP_NAME) to Patch version $(MAJOR).$(MINOR).$(PATCH)"
@@ -189,6 +208,8 @@ patch: ## to bump patch version (semver)
 	@$(OK) Bumping $(APP_NAME) to Patch version $(MAJOR).$(MINOR).$(PATCH)
 
 minor: ## to bump minor version (semver)
+	$(call check_protected_branch)
+	$(call check_pending_pulls)
 	@$(eval MINOR := $(shell echo $$(($(MINOR)+1))))
 	@$(eval PATCH := 0)
 	@$(INFO) Bumping $(APP_NAME) to Minor version $(MAJOR).$(MINOR).$(PATCH)
@@ -197,6 +218,8 @@ minor: ## to bump minor version (semver)
 	@$(OK) Bumping $(APP_NAME) to Minor version $(MAJOR).$(MINOR).$(PATCH)
 
 major: ## to bump major version (semver)
+	$(call check_protected_branch)
+	$(call check_pending_pulls)
 	$(eval MAJOR := $(shell echo $$(($(MAJOR)+1))))
 	$(eval MINOR := 0)
 	$(eval PATCH := 0)