diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4c3e9799a..2fcf7851b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ Portions Copyright (c) 2012-2013 The Cryptonote developers.
 
 ## Build
 
+### IMPORTANT 
+
+These builds are of the master branch, which is used for active development and can be either unstable or incompatible with release software. Please compile release branches.
+
 | Operating System      | Processor | Status |
 | --------------------- | -------- |--------|
 | Ubuntu 16.04          |  i686    | [![Ubuntu 16.04 i686](https://build.getmonero.org/png?builder=monero-static-ubuntu-i686)](https://build.getmonero.org/builders/monero-static-ubuntu-i686)
@@ -210,9 +214,10 @@ invokes cmake commands as needed.
 #### On Linux and OS X
 
 * Install the dependencies
-* Change to the root of the source code directory and build:
+* Change to the root of the source code directory, change to the most recent release branch, and build:
 
         cd monero
+        git checkout v0.12.2.0
         make
 
     *Optional*: If your machine has several cores and enough memory, enable
@@ -222,6 +227,12 @@ invokes cmake commands as needed.
 
     *Note*: If cmake can not find zmq.hpp file on OS X, installing `zmq.hpp` from
     https://github.com/zeromq/cppzmq to `/usr/local/include` should fix that error.
+    
+    *Note*: The instructions above will compile the most stable release of the
+    Monero software. If you would like to use and test the most recent software,
+    use ```git checkout master```. The master branch may contain updates that are
+    both unstable and incompatible with release software, though testing is always 
+    encouraged. 
 
 * The resulting executables can be found in `build/release/bin`
 
@@ -268,7 +279,7 @@ Tested on a Raspberry Pi Zero with a clean install of minimal Raspbian Stretch (
 ```
         git clone https://github.com/monero-project/monero.git
 	cd monero
-	git checkout tags/v0.11.1.0
+	git checkout tags/v0.12.2.0
 ```
 * Build:
 ```