diff --git a/openstack_releases/cmds/list_changes.py b/openstack_releases/cmds/list_changes.py
index bcfe9258be..9d451c55b6 100644
--- a/openstack_releases/cmds/list_changes.py
+++ b/openstack_releases/cmds/list_changes.py
@@ -150,14 +150,9 @@ def main():
             deliverable_info = yaml.load(f.read())
 
         # By default assume the project does not use milestones.
-        uses_milestones = False
         header('Release model')
-        if 'release-model' in deliverable_info:
-            model = deliverable_info['release-model']
-            uses_milestones = (model == 'cycle-with-milestones')
-            print(model)
-        else:
-            print('no release model specified')
+        print(deliverable_info.get('release-model',
+                                   'no release model specified'))
 
         header('Team details')
         if 'team' in deliverable_info:
@@ -199,15 +194,6 @@ def main():
         # assume the releases are in order and take the last one
         new_release = deliverable_info['releases'][-1]
 
-        # Warn if the new release looks like a milestone release but
-        # the project does not use milestones.
-        if not uses_milestones:
-            for pre_indicator in ['a', 'b', 'rc']:
-                if pre_indicator in str(new_release['version']):
-                    print(('WARNING: %s looks like a pre-release '
-                           'but %s does not use milestones') %
-                          (new_release['version'], deliverable_name))
-
         # build a map between version numbers and the release details
         by_version = {
             str(r['version']): r
diff --git a/openstack_releases/cmds/validate.py b/openstack_releases/cmds/validate.py
index db66826f71..f6373dc128 100644
--- a/openstack_releases/cmds/validate.py
+++ b/openstack_releases/cmds/validate.py
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ _VALID_MODELS = set([
     'cycle-trailing',
     'independent',
 ])
+_USES_PREVER = set([
+    'cycle-with-milestones',
+    'cycle-trailing',
+])
 _VALID_TYPES = set([
     'horizon-plugin',
     'library',
@@ -303,7 +307,8 @@ def main():
 
                             for e in versionutils.validate_version(
                                     release['version'],
-                                    release_type=release_type):
+                                    release_type=release_type,
+                                    pre_ok=(release_model in _USES_PREVER)):
                                 msg = ('could not validate version %r '
                                        'for %s: %s' %
                                        (release['version'], filename, e))
diff --git a/openstack_releases/versionutils.py b/openstack_releases/versionutils.py
index 954dd0ad66..f2723361fa 100644
--- a/openstack_releases/versionutils.py
+++ b/openstack_releases/versionutils.py
@@ -36,12 +36,18 @@ _VALIDATORS = {'std': (pbr.version.SemanticVersion.from_pip_string,
 _VALIDATORS['fuel'] = _VALIDATORS['std']
 
 
-def validate_version(versionstr, release_type='std'):
+def validate_version(versionstr, release_type='std', pre_ok=True):
     """Given a version string, yield error messages if it is "bad"
 
     Apply our SemVer rules to version strings and report all issues.
 
     """
+    if not pre_ok:
+        for pre_indicator in ['a', 'b', 'rc']:
+            if pre_indicator in versionstr:
+                yield('Version %s looks like a pre-release and the release '
+                      'model does not allow for it' % versionstr)
+
     if release_type not in _VALIDATORS:
         yield 'Release Type %r not valid using \'std\' instead' % release_type
         release_type = 'std'