diff --git a/release-notes/0.9.1.md b/release-notes/0.9.1.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..16da2e4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release-notes/0.9.1.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Release notes for sbmlutils 0.9.1
+![sbmlutils](https://github.com/matthiaskoenig/sbmlutils/raw/develop/docs_builder/images/sbmlutils-logo-60.png)
+
+We are pleased to release the next version of sbmlutils including the 
+following changes:
+
+# Features
+- applying strict unit checking (see https://github.com/sbmlteam/libsbml/issues/378)
+
+Your sbmlutils team
diff --git a/src/sbmlutils/validation.py b/src/sbmlutils/validation.py
index ed742448..36eaf364 100644
--- a/src/sbmlutils/validation.py
+++ b/src/sbmlutils/validation.py
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ def _check_consistency(
     if internal_consistency:
         count = doc.checkInternalConsistency()
     else:
-        count = doc.checkConsistency()
+        count = doc.checkConsistencyWithStrictUnits()
 
     if count > 0:
         for i in range(count):