diff --git a/lib/plugin/github/GitHub.js b/lib/plugin/github/GitHub.js
index e2f42e3a..0b5513ac 100644
--- a/lib/plugin/github/GitHub.js
+++ b/lib/plugin/github/GitHub.js
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ class GitHub extends Release {
 
     this.log.exec('octokit repos.uploadReleaseAssets', patterns, { isDryRun });
 
-    if (!assets || !isReleased || isDryRun) {
+    if (!assets || !isReleased) {
       return true;
     }
 
@@ -294,6 +294,9 @@ class GitHub extends Release {
       if (!files.length) {
         this.log.warn(`octokit repos.uploadReleaseAssets: did not find "${assets}" relative to ${process.cwd()}`);
       }
+
+      if (isDryRun) return Promise.resolve();
+
       return Promise.all(files.map(filePath => this.uploadAsset(filePath)));
     });
   }
diff --git a/lib/plugin/gitlab/GitLab.js b/lib/plugin/gitlab/GitLab.js
index fac51ba6..278f1858 100644
--- a/lib/plugin/gitlab/GitLab.js
+++ b/lib/plugin/gitlab/GitLab.js
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ class GitLab extends Release {
 
     this.log.exec('gitlab releases#uploadAssets', patterns, { isDryRun });
 
-    if (!assets || isDryRun) {
+    if (!assets) {
       return noop;
     }
 
@@ -265,6 +265,9 @@ class GitLab extends Release {
       if (!files.length) {
         this.log.warn(`gitlab releases#uploadAssets: could not find "${assets}" relative to ${process.cwd()}`);
       }
+
+      if (isDryRun) return Promise.resolve();
+
       return Promise.all(files.map(filePath => this.uploadAsset(filePath)));
     });
   }