diff --git a/scripts/release_scripts/increment_version.py b/scripts/release_scripts/increment_version.py
index 30c073a7..02c85fcc 100644
--- a/scripts/release_scripts/increment_version.py
+++ b/scripts/release_scripts/increment_version.py
@@ -17,10 +17,19 @@ def get_current_version(file_path: str) -> str:
 
 def get_last_version_from_changelog(file_path: str) -> str:
     """Extract the last version noted in the CHANGELOG.MD file."""
-    with open(file_path, "r") as file:
-        content = file.read()
-    match = re.search(r"\[(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)\] - \d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}", content)
-    return match.group(1) if match else None
+    try:
+        with open(file_path, "r") as file:
+            content = file.read()
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Changelog file not found: {file_path}")
+    except IOError as e:
+        raise IOError(f"Error reading changelog file: {e}")
+    
+    # More strict regex pattern for semantic versioning
+    match = re.search(r"\[(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)\] - (?:\d{4})-(?:0[1-9]|1[0-2])-(?:0[1-9]|[12]\d|3[01])", content)
+    if not match:
+        raise ValueError("No valid version entry found in changelog")
+    return match.group(1)
 
 
 def increment_version(version: str, bump_type: str) -> str: