diff --git a/History.md b/History.md
index e89cf1e13..b85141c91 100644
--- a/History.md
+++ b/History.md
@@ -1,4 +1,17 @@
 
+2.21.0 / 2024-05-29
+==================
+
+### Added
+
+* Assert: Add `assert.closeTo()`. (Timo Tijhof) [#1735](https://github.com/qunitjs/qunit/issues/1735)
+* Core: Add support for [flat preconfig](https://qunitjs.com/api/config/) via environment/global variables. (Timo Tijhof)
+
+### Deprecated
+
+* Core: Deprecate `QUnit.load()` and document migration path. Learn more at <https://qunitjs.com/api/QUnit/load/>. (Timo Tijhof) [#1743](https://github.com/qunitjs/qunit/pull/1743)
+* Core: Deprecate unset timeout for tests taking longer than 3 seconds. Learn more at <https://qunitjs.com/api/config/testTimeout/>. (Timo Tijhof) [#1483](https://github.com/qunitjs/qunit/issues/1483)
+
 2.20.1 / 2024-02-15
 ==================
 
diff --git a/build/prep-release.js b/build/prep-release.js
index c7db3a21b..8c884ecc8 100644
--- a/build/prep-release.js
+++ b/build/prep-release.js
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 const util = require('util');
 const cp = require('child_process');
-const gitAuthors = require('grunt-git-authors');
 
 function parseLineResults (output = '') {
   output = output.trim();
@@ -138,12 +137,10 @@ const Repo = {
     {
       const file = 'AUTHORS.txt';
       console.log(`Updating ${file}...`);
-      const updateAuthors = util.promisify(gitAuthors.updateAuthors);
-      await updateAuthors({
-        dir: path.dirname(__dirname),
-        filename: file,
-        banner: 'Authors ordered by first contribution'
-      });
+      cp.execSync(
+        require('../package.json').scripts.authors,
+        { encoding: 'utf8' }
+      );
     }
   }
 };
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 81ca57b85..3778598a2 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "qunit",
-  "version": "2.20.1-pre",
+  "version": "2.21.0-pre",
   "lockfileVersion": 2,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "qunit",
-      "version": "2.20.1-pre",
+      "version": "2.21.0-pre",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "commander": "7.2.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a6cd11950..21cbae73f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "name": "qunit",
   "title": "QUnit",
   "description": "The powerful, easy-to-use testing framework.",
-  "version": "2.20.1-pre",
+  "version": "2.21.0-pre",
   "homepage": "https://qunitjs.com",
   "author": {
     "name": "OpenJS Foundation and other contributors",