diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 23c9049cb..1c1ff2113 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -84,9 +84,10 @@ 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 loki
+        git checkout master
         make
 
     *Optional*: If your machine has several cores and enough memory, enable
@@ -96,6 +97,12 @@ 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
+    Loki 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`
 
@@ -142,7 +149,7 @@ Tested on a Raspberry Pi Zero with a clean install of minimal Raspbian Stretch (
 ```
         git clone https://github.com/loki-project/loki.git
 	cd loki
-	git checkout tags/v0.11.0.0
+	git checkout master
 ```
 * Build:
 ```