diff --git a/tools/release.sh b/tools/release.sh
index 609071201..353487e4b 100755
--- a/tools/release.sh
+++ b/tools/release.sh
@@ -5,5 +5,13 @@ NICKNAME=$2
 rm -rfv tildefriends-$VERSION
 svn export . tildefriends-$VERSION
 echo "tildefriends-$VERSION: $NICKNAME" > tildefriends-$VERSION/VERSION
-tar -caf tildefriends-$VERSION.tar.xz tildefriends-$VERSION
+tar \
+	--exclude=deps/libsodium/builds \
+	--exclude=deps/libsodium/configure \
+	--exclude=deps/libsodium/test \
+	--exclude=deps/libbacktrace/Isaac.Newton-Opticks.txt \
+	--exclude=deps/sqlite/shell.c \
+	--exclude=deps/speedscope/*.map \
+	--exclude=deps/libuv/test \
+	-caf tildefriends-$VERSION.tar.xz tildefriends-$VERSION
 rm -rfv tildefriends-$VERSION