diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d4ecda37b..9f788c30d 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED TRUE)
 set(GCC_MINIMUM_VERSION "5.1")
 set(CLANG_MINIMUM_VERSION "3.5")
 
-# Also remember to set PROTOCOL_VERSION in network/networkprotocol.h when releasing
+# You should not need to edit these manually, use util/bump_version.sh
 set(VERSION_MAJOR 5)
 set(VERSION_MINOR 7)
 set(VERSION_PATCH 0)
diff --git a/util/bump_version.sh b/util/bump_version.sh
index 271886d68..909e94a1b 100755
--- a/util/bump_version.sh
+++ b/util/bump_version.sh
@@ -1,144 +1,230 @@
 #!/bin/bash -e
 
-prompt_for_number() {
+prompt_for() {
 	local prompt_text=$1
-	local default_value=$2
-	local tmp=""
+	local pattern=$2
+	local default_value=$3
+	local tmp=
 	while true; do
 		read -p "$prompt_text [$default_value]: " tmp
-		if [ "$tmp" = "" ]; then
+		if [ -z "$tmp" ]; then
 			echo "$default_value"; return
-		elif echo "$tmp" | grep -q -E '^[0-9]+$'; then
+		elif echo "$tmp" | grep -qE "^(${pattern})\$"; then
 			echo "$tmp"; return
 		fi
 	done
 }
 
-# On a release the following actions are performed
-# * DEVELOPMENT_BUILD is set to false
-# * android versionCode is bumped
-# * appdata release version and date are updated
-# * Commit the changes
-# * Tag with current version
-perform_release() {
-	RELEASE_DATE=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)
+# Reads current versions
+# out: VERSION_MAJOR VERSION_MINOR VERSION_PATCH VERSION_IS_DEV CURRENT_VERSION ANDROID_VERSION_CODE
+read_versions() {
+	VERSION_MAJOR=$(grep -oE '^set\(VERSION_MAJOR [0-9]+\)$' CMakeLists.txt | tr -dC 0-9)
+	VERSION_MINOR=$(grep -oE '^set\(VERSION_MINOR [0-9]+\)$' CMakeLists.txt | tr -dC 0-9)
+	VERSION_PATCH=$(grep -oE '^set\(VERSION_PATCH [0-9]+\)$' CMakeLists.txt | tr -dC 0-9)
+	VERSION_IS_DEV=$(grep -oE '^set\(DEVELOPMENT_BUILD [A-Z]+\)$' CMakeLists.txt)
+	ANDROID_VERSION_CODE=$(grep -oE '\("versionCode", [0-9]+\)' android/build.gradle | tr -dC 0-9)
 
-	sed -i -re "s/^set\(DEVELOPMENT_BUILD TRUE\)$/set(DEVELOPMENT_BUILD FALSE)/" CMakeLists.txt
+	# Make sure they all exist
+	[ -n "$VERSION_MAJOR" ]
+	[ -n "$VERSION_MINOR" ]
+	[ -n "$VERSION_PATCH" ]
+	[ -n "$VERSION_IS_DEV" ]
+	[ -n "$ANDROID_VERSION_CODE" ]
 
-	sed -i 's/project.ext.set("versionExtra", "-dev")/project.ext.set("versionExtra", "")/' android/build.gradle
-	sed -i 's/project.ext.set("developmentBuild", 1)/project.ext.set("developmentBuild", 0)/' android/build.gradle
-	sed -i -re "s/\"versionCode\", [0-9]+/\"versionCode\", $NEW_ANDROID_VERSION_CODE/" android/build.gradle
+	if echo "$VERSION_IS_DEV" | grep -q ' TRUE'; then
+		VERSION_IS_DEV=1
+	else
+		VERSION_IS_DEV=0
+	fi
+	CURRENT_VERSION="$VERSION_MAJOR.$VERSION_MINOR.$VERSION_PATCH"
 
-	sed -i '/\<release/s/\(version\)="[^"]*"/\1="'"$RELEASE_VERSION"'"/' misc/net.minetest.minetest.appdata.xml
-	sed -i 's/\(<release date\)="[^"]*"/\1="'"$RELEASE_DATE"'"/' misc/net.minetest.minetest.appdata.xml
-
-	git add -f CMakeLists.txt android/build.gradle misc/net.minetest.minetest.appdata.xml
-
-	git commit -m "Bump version to $RELEASE_VERSION"
-
-	echo "Tagging $RELEASE_VERSION"
-
-	git tag -a "$RELEASE_VERSION" -m "$RELEASE_VERSION"
+	echo "Current Minetest version: $CURRENT_VERSION"
+	echo "Current Android version code: $ANDROID_VERSION_CODE"
 }
 
-# After release
-# * Set DEVELOPMENT_BUILD to true
-# * Bump version in CMakeLists and docs
-# * Commit the changes
-back_to_devel() {
-	echo 'Creating "return back to development" commit'
+# Retrieves protocol version from header
+# in: $1
+read_proto_ver() {
+	local ref=$1
+	git show "$ref":src/network/networkprotocol.h | grep -oE 'LATEST_PROTOCOL_VERSION [0-9]+' | tr -dC 0-9
+}
+
+## Prompts for new android version code
+# in: ANDROID_VERSION_CODE
+# out: NEW_ANDROID_VERSION_CODE
+bump_android_ver() {
+	# +1 for ARM and +1 for ARM64 APKs
+	NEW_ANDROID_VERSION_CODE=$(expr $ANDROID_VERSION_CODE + 2)
+	NEW_ANDROID_VERSION_CODE=$(prompt_for "Set android version code" '[0-9]+' $NEW_ANDROID_VERSION_CODE)
+
+	echo
+	echo "New android version code: $NEW_ANDROID_VERSION_CODE"
+}
+
+## Prompts for new version
+# in: VERSION_{MAJOR,MINOR,PATCH} DO_PATCH_REL
+# out: NEXT_VERSION NEXT_VERSION_{MAJOR,MINOR,PATCH}
+bump_version() {
+	NEXT_VERSION_MAJOR=$VERSION_MAJOR
+	if [ "$DO_PATCH_REL" -eq 1 ]; then
+		NEXT_VERSION_MINOR=$VERSION_MINOR
+		NEXT_VERSION_PATCH=$(expr $VERSION_PATCH + 1)
+	else
+		NEXT_VERSION_MINOR=$(expr $VERSION_MINOR + 1)
+		NEXT_VERSION_PATCH=0
+	fi
+
+	NEXT_VERSION_MAJOR=$(prompt_for "Set next major" '[0-9]+' $NEXT_VERSION_MAJOR)
+	if [ "$NEXT_VERSION_MAJOR" != "$VERSION_MAJOR" ]; then
+		NEXT_VERSION_MINOR=0
+		NEXT_VERSION_PATCH=0
+	fi
+
+	NEXT_VERSION_MINOR=$(prompt_for "Set next minor" '[0-9]+' $NEXT_VERSION_MINOR)
+	if [ "$NEXT_VERSION_MINOR" != "$VERSION_MINOR" ]; then
+		NEXT_VERSION_PATCH=0
+	fi
+
+	NEXT_VERSION_PATCH=$(prompt_for "Set next patch" '[0-9]+' $NEXT_VERSION_PATCH)
+
+	NEXT_VERSION="$NEXT_VERSION_MAJOR.$NEXT_VERSION_MINOR.$NEXT_VERSION_PATCH"
+
+	echo
+	echo "New version: $NEXT_VERSION"
+}
+
+## Toggles development build
+# in: $1
+set_dev_build() {
+	local is_dev=$1
 
 	# Update CMakeList.txt versions
-	sed -i -re 's/^set\(DEVELOPMENT_BUILD FALSE\)$/set(DEVELOPMENT_BUILD TRUE)/' CMakeLists.txt
+	if [ "$is_dev" -eq 1 ]; then
+		sed -i -re 's/^set\(DEVELOPMENT_BUILD [A-Z]+\)$/set(DEVELOPMENT_BUILD TRUE)/' CMakeLists.txt
+	else
+		sed -i -re 's/^set\(DEVELOPMENT_BUILD [A-Z]+\)$/set(DEVELOPMENT_BUILD FALSE)/' CMakeLists.txt
+	fi
+
+	# Update Android versions
+	if [ "$is_dev" -eq 1 ]; then
+		sed -i 's/set("versionExtra", "")/set("versionExtra", "-dev")/' android/build.gradle
+		sed -i 's/project.ext.set("developmentBuild", 0)/project.ext.set("developmentBuild", 1)/' android/build.gradle
+	else
+		sed -i 's/set("versionExtra", "-dev")/set("versionExtra", "")/' android/build.gradle
+		sed -i 's/project.ext.set("developmentBuild", 1)/project.ext.set("developmentBuild", 0)/' android/build.gradle
+	fi
+
+	git add -f CMakeLists.txt android/build.gradle
+}
+
+## Writes new android version code
+# in: NEW_ANDROID_VERSION_CODE
+write_android_version() {
+	sed -i -re "s/\"versionCode\", [0-9]+/\"versionCode\", $NEW_ANDROID_VERSION_CODE/" android/build.gradle
+
+	git add -f android/build.gradle
+}
+
+## Writes new version to the right files
+# in: NEXT_VERSION NEXT_VERSION_{MAJOR,MINOR,PATCH}
+write_new_version() {
+	# Update CMakeList.txt versions
 	sed -i -re "s/^set\(VERSION_MAJOR [0-9]+\)$/set(VERSION_MAJOR $NEXT_VERSION_MAJOR)/" CMakeLists.txt
 	sed -i -re "s/^set\(VERSION_MINOR [0-9]+\)$/set(VERSION_MINOR $NEXT_VERSION_MINOR)/" CMakeLists.txt
 	sed -i -re "s/^set\(VERSION_PATCH [0-9]+\)$/set(VERSION_PATCH $NEXT_VERSION_PATCH)/" CMakeLists.txt
 
 	# Update Android versions
-	sed -i 's/set("versionExtra", "")/set("versionExtra", "-dev")/' android/build.gradle
-	sed -i 's/project.ext.set("developmentBuild", 0)/project.ext.set("developmentBuild", 1)/' android/build.gradle
 	sed -i -re "s/set\(\"versionMajor\", [0-9]+\)/set(\"versionMajor\", $NEXT_VERSION_MAJOR)/" android/build.gradle
 	sed -i -re "s/set\(\"versionMinor\", [0-9]+\)/set(\"versionMinor\", $NEXT_VERSION_MINOR)/" android/build.gradle
 	sed -i -re "s/set\(\"versionPatch\", [0-9]+\)/set(\"versionPatch\", $NEXT_VERSION_PATCH)/" android/build.gradle
 
 	# Update doc versions
-	sed -i -re "1s/[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+/$NEXT_VERSION/g" doc/menu_lua_api.txt
-	sed -i -re "1s/[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+/$NEXT_VERSION/g" doc/client_lua_api.txt
+	sed -i -re '1s/[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+/'"$NEXT_VERSION"'/g' doc/menu_lua_api.txt
+	sed -i -re '1s/[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+/'"$NEXT_VERSION"'/g' doc/client_lua_api.txt
 
-	# Commit
 	git add -f CMakeLists.txt android/build.gradle doc/menu_lua_api.txt doc/client_lua_api.txt
+}
+
+## Create release commit and tag
+# in: $1
+perform_release() {
+	local release_version=$1
+	RELEASE_DATE=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)
+
+	sed -i '/\<release/s/\(version\)="[^"]*"/\1="'"$release_version"'"/' misc/net.minetest.minetest.appdata.xml
+	sed -i 's/\(<release date\)="[^"]*"/\1="'"$RELEASE_DATE"'"/' misc/net.minetest.minetest.appdata.xml
+
+	git add -f misc/net.minetest.minetest.appdata.xml
+
+	git commit -m "Bump version to $release_version"
+
+	echo "Tagging $release_version"
+
+	git tag -a "$release_version" -m "$release_version"
+}
+
+## Create after-release commit
+# in: NEXT_VERSION
+back_to_devel() {
+	echo 'Creating "return back to development" commit'
+
 	git commit -m "Continue with $NEXT_VERSION-dev"
 }
-##################################
-# Switch to top minetest directory
-##################################
 
+#######################
+# Start of main logic:
+#######################
+
+# Switch to top minetest directory
 cd ${0%/*}/..
 
+# Determine old versions
+read_versions
 
-#######################
-# Determine old version
-#######################
-
-# Make sure all the files we need exist
-grep -q -E '^set\(VERSION_MAJOR [0-9]+\)$' CMakeLists.txt
-grep -q -E '^set\(VERSION_MINOR [0-9]+\)$' CMakeLists.txt
-grep -q -E '^set\(VERSION_PATCH [0-9]+\)$' CMakeLists.txt
-grep -q -E '\("versionCode", [0-9]+\)' android/build.gradle
-
-VERSION_MAJOR=$(grep -E '^set\(VERSION_MAJOR [0-9]+\)$' CMakeLists.txt | tr -dC 0-9)
-VERSION_MINOR=$(grep -E '^set\(VERSION_MINOR [0-9]+\)$' CMakeLists.txt | tr -dC 0-9)
-VERSION_PATCH=$(grep -E '^set\(VERSION_PATCH [0-9]+\)$' CMakeLists.txt | tr -dC 0-9)
-ANDROID_VERSION_CODE=$(grep -E '"versionCode", [0-9]+' android/build.gradle | tr -dC 0-9)
-
-RELEASE_VERSION="$VERSION_MAJOR.$VERSION_MINOR.$VERSION_PATCH"
-
-echo "Current Minetest version: $RELEASE_VERSION"
-echo "Current Android version code: $ANDROID_VERSION_CODE"
-
-# +1 for ARM and +1 for ARM64 APKs
-NEW_ANDROID_VERSION_CODE=$(expr $ANDROID_VERSION_CODE + 2)
-NEW_ANDROID_VERSION_CODE=$(prompt_for_number "Set android version code" $NEW_ANDROID_VERSION_CODE)
-
-echo
-echo "New android version code: $NEW_ANDROID_VERSION_CODE"
-
-########################
-# Perform release
-########################
-
-perform_release
-
-########################
-# Prompt for next version
-########################
-
-NEXT_VERSION_MAJOR=$VERSION_MAJOR
-NEXT_VERSION_MINOR=$VERSION_MINOR
-NEXT_VERSION_PATCH=$(expr $VERSION_PATCH + 1)
-
-NEXT_VERSION_MAJOR=$(prompt_for_number "Set next major" $NEXT_VERSION_MAJOR)
-
-if [ "$NEXT_VERSION_MAJOR" != "$VERSION_MAJOR" ]; then
-	NEXT_VERSION_MINOR=0
-	NEXT_VERSION_PATCH=0
+# Double-check what we're doing
+if [ "$VERSION_IS_DEV" -eq 1 ]; then
+	echo "You are on the development branch and about to make a major or minor release."
+	DO_PATCH_REL=0
+else
+	echo "You are on the stable/backport branch and about to make a patch release."
+	DO_PATCH_REL=1
+fi
+if [[ "$(prompt_for "Is this correct?" '[Yy][Ee][Ss]|[Nn][Oo]|' no)" != [Yy][Ee][Ss] ]]; then
+	echo "Aborting"
+	exit 1
 fi
 
-NEXT_VERSION_MINOR=$(prompt_for_number "Set next minor" $NEXT_VERSION_MINOR)
+if [ "$DO_PATCH_REL" -eq 0 ]; then
+	# On a regular release the version moves from 5.7.0-dev -> 5.7.0 (new tag) -> 5.8.0-dev
 
-if [ "$NEXT_VERSION_MINOR" != "$VERSION_MINOR" ]; then
-	NEXT_VERSION_PATCH=0
+	old_proto=$(read_proto_ver origin/stable-5)
+	new_proto=$(read_proto_ver HEAD)
+	[ -n "$old_proto" ]
+	[ -n "$new_proto" ]
+	echo "Protocol versions: $old_proto (last release) -> $new_proto (now)"
+	if [ "$new_proto" -le "$old_proto" ]; then
+		echo "The protocol version has not been increased since last release, refusing to continue."
+		exit 1
+	fi
+
+	bump_android_ver
+	write_android_version
+	set_dev_build 0
+
+	perform_release "$CURRENT_VERSION"
+
+	bump_version
+	set_dev_build 1
+	write_new_version
+
+	back_to_devel
+else
+	# On a patch release the version moves from 5.7.0 -> 5.7.1 (new tag)
+
+	bump_android_ver
+	write_android_version
+	bump_version
+	write_new_version
+
+	perform_release "$NEXT_VERSION"
 fi
-
-NEXT_VERSION_PATCH=$(prompt_for_number "Set next patch" $NEXT_VERSION_PATCH)
-
-NEXT_VERSION="$NEXT_VERSION_MAJOR.$NEXT_VERSION_MINOR.$NEXT_VERSION_PATCH"
-
-echo
-echo "New version: $NEXT_VERSION"
-
-########################
-# Return back to devel
-########################
-
-back_to_devel