diff --git a/GITLAB_SHELL_VERSION b/GITLAB_SHELL_VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..158c7472933624f9c336319cc85f9d2fc2bb6e82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/GITLAB_SHELL_VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+1.9.5
diff --git a/doc/release/monthly.md b/doc/release/monthly.md
index 446dbc6e6a9c1eefa06df222e0eb6a58541435d3..99f2d4cafed7b104bfde91d90d24307420c200a3 100644
--- a/doc/release/monthly.md
+++ b/doc/release/monthly.md
@@ -160,6 +160,10 @@ git push <remote> x-x-stable
 
 ### **3. Set VERSION to x.x.x and push**
 
+Change the GITLAB_SHELL_VERSION file in `master` of the CE repository if the version changed.
+
+Change the GITLAB_SHELL_VERSION file in `master` of the EE repository if the version changed.
+
 Change the VERSION file in `master` branch of the CE repository and commit. Cherry-pick into the `x-x-stable` branch of CE.
 
 Change the VERSION file in `master` branch of the EE repository and commit. Cherry-pick into the `x-x-stable-ee` branch of EE.
diff --git a/lib/tasks/gitlab/check.rake b/lib/tasks/gitlab/check.rake
index 362693b0603fb1e28d441f21b1f6ea768a8294f6..00af8d1029109d1c9cb8b4f59c9739fb56dc0fc8 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/gitlab/check.rake
+++ b/lib/tasks/gitlab/check.rake
@@ -606,6 +606,22 @@ namespace :gitlab do
       Gitlab::Shell.new.version
     end
 
+    def required_gitlab_shell_version
+      File.read(File.join(Rails.root, "GITLAB_SHELL_VERSION")).strip
+    end
+
+    def gitlab_shell_major_version
+      required_gitlab_shell_version.split(".")[0].to_i
+    end
+
+    def gitlab_shell_minor_version
+      required_gitlab_shell_version.split(".")[1].to_i
+    end
+
+    def gitlab_shell_patch_version
+      required_gitlab_shell_version.split(".")[2].to_i
+    end
+
     def has_gitlab_shell3?
       gitlab_shell_version.try(:start_with?, "v3.")
     end
@@ -779,7 +795,7 @@ namespace :gitlab do
   end
 
   def check_gitlab_shell
-    required_version = Gitlab::VersionInfo.new(1, 9, 5)
+    required_version = Gitlab::VersionInfo.new(gitlab_shell_major_version, gitlab_shell_minor_version, gitlab_shell_patch_version)
     current_version = Gitlab::VersionInfo.parse(gitlab_shell_version)
 
     print "GitLab Shell version >= #{required_version} ? ... "