diff --git a/dev/releases/utils_github.py b/dev/releases/utils_github.py
index 5d0d162862..fb19aea970 100644
--- a/dev/releases/utils_github.py
+++ b/dev/releases/utils_github.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 import subprocess
 
 import github
-from utils import error, notice, sha256file, verify_via_checksumfile
+from utils import error, notice, sha256file
 
 CURRENT_REPO_NAME = os.environ.get("GITHUB_REPOSITORY", "gap-system/gap")
 
@@ -59,6 +59,16 @@ def initialize_github(token=None) -> None:
         error("Error: the access token may be incorrect")
 
 
+def verify_via_checksumfile(filename: str) -> None:
+    actual_checksum = sha256file(filename)
+    with open(filename + ".sha256", "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        expected_checksum = f.read().strip()
+    if expected_checksum != actual_checksum:
+        error(
+            f"checksum for '{filename}' expected to be {expected_checksum} but got {actual_checksum}"
+        )
+
+
 # Given the <filename> of a file that does not end with .sha256, create or get
 # the corresponding sha256 checksum file <filename>.sha256, (comparing checksums
 # just to be safe, in the latter case). Then upload the files <filename> and