diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 70c7d2c..e526d10 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -58,5 +58,7 @@ freeline_project_description.json
 
 secrets.properties
 
+!examples/*
+
 # vim
 *.sw?
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 84833c0..4cbbfa6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ Make sure you have Gradle 5.4.x or higher, 5.4.1 is known to work:
 
 ## Release Build Process
 
-The first time you create a release build you'll need to create two files. The
+The first time you create a release build you'll need to create a keystore file and prepare a properties file. The
 release keystore is used for app signing and a properties file is used to store
 sensitive information about the keystore. These files should not be committed
 to git. Once you have both of these files you can create a release build for
@@ -84,18 +84,10 @@ The `keytool` command can be used, for example:
 * Set the Key Store Name to `silent_dragon_keystore.jks` and the path to that of the project, create a password for the keystore path, a Key alias, and a key password. The store password and key password should be the same. Fill out some basic organization information and click Ok.
 * On the next screen make sure the build variant "release" is selected and click Finish.
 
-### Creating a properties file
+### Preparing properties file
 
-Within the projects main directory create a file secrets.properties The
-contents of the file are below and filled in with the release keystore alias,
-key password, and store password from when you created the release keystore.
-
-```
-store_file_location=../silent_dragon_keystore.jks
-key_alias=<alias>
-key_password=<key_password>
-store_password=<store_password>
-```
+Copy `secrets.properties` file from `examples` folder and paste it to the projects main directory.
+Fill store_file_location, key_alias, key_password and store_password when you created the release keystore.
 
 ### Building a release APK for Google Play
 
diff --git a/app/build.gradle b/app/build.gradle
index 97e0389..bcc7d83 100644
--- a/app/build.gradle
+++ b/app/build.gradle
@@ -5,13 +5,6 @@ apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
 apply plugin: 'kotlin-android'
 apply plugin: 'kotlin-android-extensions'
 
-def secretsPropertiesFile = rootProject.file("secrets.properties")
-def secretProperties = new Properties()
-
-if (secretsPropertiesFile.exists()) {
-    secretProperties.load(new FileInputStream((secretsPropertiesFile)))
-}
-
 android {
     compileSdkVersion 28
 
@@ -25,14 +18,8 @@ android {
         vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary = true
     }
 
-
     signingConfigs {
-        release {
-            storeFile file(secretProperties["store_file_location"])
-            keyAlias secretProperties["key_alias"]
-            keyPassword secretProperties["key_password"]
-            storePassword secretProperties["store_password"]
-        }
+        release
     }
 
     buildTypes {
@@ -45,6 +32,22 @@ android {
 
 }
 
+def secretsPropertiesFile = rootProject.file("secrets.properties")
+def secretProperties = new Properties()
+
+if (secretsPropertiesFile.exists()) {
+    secretProperties.load(new FileInputStream(secretsPropertiesFile))
+
+    android.signingConfigs.release.storeFile = file(secretProperties["store_file_location"])
+    android.signingConfigs.release.keyAlias = secretProperties["key_alias"]
+    android.signingConfigs.release.keyPassword = secretProperties["key_password"]
+    android.signingConfigs.release.storePassword = secretProperties["store_password"]
+
+    android.buildTypes.release.signingConfig = android.signingConfigs.release
+} else {
+    android.buildTypes.release.signingConfig = null
+}
+
 dependencies {
     implementation fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: ['*.jar'])
     implementation "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib-jdk7:$kotlin_version"
diff --git a/examples/secrets.properties b/examples/secrets.properties
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..54bb5a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/secrets.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+store_file_location=../silent_dragon_keystore.jks
+key_alias=<alias>
+key_password=<key_password>
+store_password=<store_password>