diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 0ffc2ddd..d07d7f99 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -338,6 +338,125 @@ jobs:
           skip-tag: 'true'
           git-push: 'false'
 
+  test-skip-bump:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          path: "./"
+
+      - run: npm ci --prod
+      - run: npm run build
+
+      - run: "git config --global user.email 'changelog@github.com'"
+      - run: "git config --global user.name 'Awesome Github action'"
+
+      - run: "git add . && git commit --allow-empty -m 'fix: Added fake file so version would be bumped'"
+
+      - name: Generate changelog
+        id: changelog
+        uses: ./
+        env:
+          ENV: 'dont-use-git'
+          EXPECTED_TAG: "v1.4.5"
+        with:
+          github-token: ${{ secrets.github_token }}
+          version-file: "test-file.json"
+          skip-bump: "true"
+
+      - name: Show file
+        run: |
+          echo "$(<test-file.json)"
+
+      - name: Test version
+        run: node ./test-output.js
+        env:
+          FILES: "test-file.json"
+          EXPECTED_VERSION: "1.4.5"
+
+  test-skip-bump-with-fallback:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          path: "./"
+
+      - run: npm ci --prod
+      - run: npm run build
+
+      - run: "git config --global user.email 'changelog@github.com'"
+      - run: "git config --global user.name 'Awesome Github action'"
+
+      - run: "git add . && git commit --allow-empty -m 'fix: Added fake file so version would be bumped'"
+
+      - name: Generate changelog
+        id: changelog
+        uses: ./
+        env:
+          ENV: 'dont-use-git'
+          EXPECTED_TAG: "v1.4.5"
+        with:
+          github-token: ${{ secrets.github_token }}
+          version-file: "test-file.json"
+          skip-bump: "true"
+          fallback-version: "6.5.0"
+
+      - name: Show file
+        run: |
+          echo "$(<test-file.json)"
+
+      - name: Test version
+        run: node ./test-output.js
+        env:
+          FILES: "test-file.json"
+          EXPECTED_VERSION: "1.4.5"
+
+  test-skip-bump-with-fallback-empty-version-file:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          path: "./"
+
+      - run: npm ci --prod
+      - run: npm run build
+
+      - run: "git config --global user.email 'changelog@github.com'"
+      - run: "git config --global user.name 'Awesome Github action'"
+
+      - run: "git add . && git commit --allow-empty -m 'fix: Added fake file so version would be bumped'"
+
+      - name: Generate changelog
+        id: changelog
+        uses: ./
+        env:
+          ENV: 'dont-use-git'
+          EXPECTED_TAG: "v6.5.0"
+        with:
+          github-token: ${{ secrets.github_token }}
+          version-file: "./test-file-empty.json"
+          skip-bump: "true"
+          fallback-version: "6.5.0"
+
+      # Tests that the fallback version is used in the changelog, when the version file is empty
+      
+      # First get's the first line which contains the version string
+      # Then regEx matches for a semver version
+      # Then matches the resulting version string against our expected version
+      - name: Test changelog output
+        run: |
+            file_path="CHANGELOG.md"
+            input_version="6.5.0"
+
+            first_line=$(head -n 1 "$file_path")
+            [[ $first_line =~ ([0-9]+)\.([0-9]+)\.([0-9]+) ]] || exit 1
+
+            extracted_version="${BASH_REMATCH[0]}"
+            [[ "$extracted_version" == "$input_version" ]] || exit 1
+
   test-yaml:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b25277dc..8767bea1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ This action will bump version, tag commit and generate a changelog with conventi
 - **Optional** `create-summary`: Adds the generated changelog as Action Summary. Default `false`.
 - **Optional** `pre-release`: Marks the release as pre-release. Default `false`.
 - **Optional** `pre-release-identifier`: The identifier to use for the pre-release. Default `rc`.
+- **Optional** `skip-bump`: Prevents the action from bumping the version.
 
 ### Presets
 This action comes pre-compiled with the `angular` (default) and `conventionalcommits`, if you wish to use an other preset
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index a72157d4..97b9cbbb 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -150,6 +150,11 @@ inputs:
     description: "The identifier to use for pre-releases"
     default: "rc"
     required: false
+  
+  skip-bump:
+    description: "Prevents the action from bumping the version"
+    default: "false"
+    required: false
 
 outputs:
   changelog:
diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 3fa67bed..3ad781c3 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -24106,6 +24106,7 @@ module.exports = class BaseVersioning {
   newVersion = null
 
   oldVersion = null
+
   /**
    * Set some basic configurations
    *
@@ -24115,6 +24116,14 @@ module.exports = class BaseVersioning {
   init = (fileLocation, versionPath) => {
     this.fileLocation = fileLocation
     this.versionPath = versionPath
+    this.parseFile()
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Abstract method for parsing the file
+   */
+  parseFile = () => {
+    throw new Error('Implement parseFile logic in class!')
   }
 
   /**
@@ -24122,7 +24131,7 @@ module.exports = class BaseVersioning {
    *
    * @return {string}
    */
-  read = () => {
+  readFile = () => {
     if (fs.existsSync(this.fileLocation)) {
       return fs.readFileSync(this.fileLocation, 'utf8')
     }
@@ -24169,6 +24178,13 @@ const bumpVersion = __nccwpck_require__(1581)
 
 module.exports = class Git extends BaseVersioning {
 
+  /**
+   * Left empty to override the parent's abstract method, which would throw an error
+   */
+  parseFile = () => {
+
+  }
+
   bump = async(releaseType) => {
     const tagPrefix = core.getInput('tag-prefix')
     const prerelease = core.getBooleanInput('pre-release')
@@ -24197,7 +24213,7 @@ const Yaml = __nccwpck_require__(5731)
 const Toml = __nccwpck_require__(3636)
 const Mix = __nccwpck_require__(1731)
 
-module.exports = (fileExtension) => {
+module.exports = (fileExtension, filePath) => {
   switch (fileExtension.toLowerCase()) {
     case 'json':
       return new Json()
@@ -24216,7 +24232,7 @@ module.exports = (fileExtension) => {
       return new Mix()
 
     default:
-      return null
+      throw new Error(`File extension "${fileExtension}" from file "${filePath}" is not supported`)
   }
 }
 
@@ -24234,33 +24250,38 @@ const bumpVersion = __nccwpck_require__(1581)
 
 module.exports = class Json extends BaseVersioning {
 
+  eol = null
+  jsonContent = {}
+
   /**
-   * Bumps the version in the package.json
-   *
-   * @param {!string} releaseType - The type of release
-   * @return {*}
+   * Reads and parses the json file
    */
-  bump = async (releaseType) => {
+  parseFile = () => {
     // Read the file
-    const fileContent = this.read()
+    const fileContent = this.readFile()
 
     // Parse the file
-    let jsonContent
-    let eol = fileContent.endsWith('\n') ? '\n' : ''
+    this.eol = fileContent.endsWith('\n') ? '\n' : ''
     try {
-      jsonContent = JSON.parse(fileContent)
+      this.jsonContent = JSON.parse(fileContent)
     } catch (error) {
       core.startGroup(`Error when parsing the file '${this.fileLocation}'`)
       core.info(`File-Content: ${fileContent}`)
       core.info(error) // should be 'warning' ?
       core.endGroup()
-
-      jsonContent = {}
     }
 
     // Get the old version
-    this.oldVersion = objectPath.get(jsonContent, this.versionPath, null)
+    this.oldVersion = objectPath.get(this.jsonContent, this.versionPath, null)
+  }
 
+  /**
+   * Bumps the version in the package.json
+   *
+   * @param {!string} releaseType - The type of release
+   * @return {*}
+   */
+  bump = async (releaseType) => {
     // Get the new version
     this.newVersion = await bumpVersion(
       releaseType,
@@ -24270,11 +24291,11 @@ module.exports = class Json extends BaseVersioning {
     core.info(`Bumped file "${this.fileLocation}" from "${this.oldVersion}" to "${this.newVersion}"`)
 
     // Update the content with the new version
-    objectPath.set(jsonContent, this.versionPath, this.newVersion)
+    objectPath.set(this.jsonContent, this.versionPath, this.newVersion)
 
     // Update the file
     this.update(
-      JSON.stringify(jsonContent, null, 2) + eol
+      JSON.stringify(this.jsonContent, null, 2) + this.eol
     )
   }
 
@@ -24291,30 +24312,39 @@ const BaseVersioning = __nccwpck_require__(3030)
 const bumpVersion = __nccwpck_require__(1581)
 
 module.exports = class Mix extends BaseVersioning {
+
+  fileContent = null
+
   /**
-   * Bumps the version in the package.json
-   *
-   * @param {!string} releaseType - The type of release
-   * @return {*}
+   * Reads and parses the mix file
    */
-  bump = async(releaseType) => {
+  parseFile = () => {
     // Read the file
-    const fileContent = this.read()
+    this.fileContent = this.readFile()
 
-    const [_, oldVersion] = fileContent.match(/version: "([0-9.]+)"/i)
+    // Parse the file
+    const [_, oldVersion] = this.fileContent.match(/version: "([0-9.]+)"/i)
     this.oldVersion = oldVersion
 
     if (!this.oldVersion) {
       throw new Error(`Failed to extract mix project version.`)
     }
+  }
 
+  /**
+   * Bumps the version in the package.json
+   *
+   * @param {!string} releaseType - The type of release
+   * @return {*}
+   */
+  bump = async(releaseType) => {
     this.newVersion = await bumpVersion(
       releaseType,
       this.oldVersion
     )
 
     this.update(
-      fileContent.replace(`version: "${this.oldVersion}"`, `version: "${this.newVersion}"`)
+      this.fileContent.replace(`version: "${this.oldVersion}"`, `version: "${this.newVersion}"`)
     )
   }
 }
@@ -24334,6 +24364,21 @@ const bumpVersion = __nccwpck_require__(1581)
 
 module.exports = class Toml extends BaseVersioning {
 
+  tomlContent = null
+  fileContent = null
+
+  /**
+   * Reads and parses the toml file
+   */
+  parseFile = () => {
+    // Read the file
+    this.fileContent = this.readFile()
+
+    // Parse the file
+    this.tomlContent = toml.parse(this.fileContent)
+    this.oldVersion = objectPath.get(this.tomlContent, this.versionPath, null)
+  }
+
   /**
    * Bumps the version in the package.json
    *
@@ -24341,11 +24386,6 @@ module.exports = class Toml extends BaseVersioning {
    * @return {*}
    */
   bump = async (releaseType) => {
-    // Read the file
-    const fileContent = this.read()
-    const tomlContent = toml.parse(fileContent)
-    this.oldVersion = objectPath.get(tomlContent, this.versionPath, null)
-
     // Get the new version
     this.newVersion = await bumpVersion(
       releaseType,
@@ -24361,15 +24401,15 @@ module.exports = class Toml extends BaseVersioning {
 
       this.update(
         // We use replace instead of yaml.stringify so we can preserve white spaces and comments
-        fileContent.replace(
+        this.fileContent.replace(
           `${versionName} = "${this.oldVersion}"`,
           `${versionName} = "${this.newVersion}"`,
         ),
       )
     } else {
       // Update the content with the new version
-      objectPath.set(tomlContent, this.versionPath, this.newVersion)
-      this.update(toml.stringify(tomlContent))
+      objectPath.set(this.tomlContent, this.versionPath, this.newVersion)
+      this.update(toml.stringify(this.tomlContent))
     }
   }
 
@@ -24391,6 +24431,21 @@ const bumpVersion = __nccwpck_require__(1581)
 
 module.exports = class Yaml extends BaseVersioning {
 
+  fileContent = null
+  yamlContent = null
+
+  /**
+   * Reads and parses the yaml file
+   */
+  parseFile = () => {
+    // Read the file
+    this.fileContent = this.readFile()
+    
+    // Parse the file
+    this.yamlContent = yaml.parse(this.fileContent) || {}
+    this.oldVersion = objectPath.get(this.yamlContent, this.versionPath, null)
+  }
+
   /**
    * Bumps the version in the package.json
    *
@@ -24398,11 +24453,6 @@ module.exports = class Yaml extends BaseVersioning {
    * @return {*}
    */
   bump = async (releaseType) => {
-    // Read the file
-    const fileContent = this.read()
-    const yamlContent = yaml.parse(fileContent) || {}
-    this.oldVersion = objectPath.get(yamlContent, this.versionPath, null)
-
     // Get the new version
     this.newVersion = await bumpVersion(
       releaseType,
@@ -24419,7 +24469,7 @@ module.exports = class Yaml extends BaseVersioning {
       this.update(
         // We use replace instead of yaml.stringify so we can preserve white spaces and comments
         // Replace if version was used with single quotes
-        fileContent.replace(
+        this.fileContent.replace(
           `${versionName}: '${this.oldVersion}'`,
           `${versionName}: '${this.newVersion}'`,
         ).replace( // Replace if version was used with double quotes
@@ -24432,8 +24482,8 @@ module.exports = class Yaml extends BaseVersioning {
       )
     } else {
       // Update the content with the new version
-      objectPath.set(yamlContent, this.versionPath, this.newVersion)
-      this.update(yaml.stringify(yamlContent))
+      objectPath.set(this.yamlContent, this.versionPath, this.newVersion)
+      this.update(yaml.stringify(this.yamlContent))
     }
   }
 
@@ -34738,18 +34788,20 @@ const changelog = __nccwpck_require__(1749)
 const requireScript = __nccwpck_require__(4492)
 const { loadPreset, loadPresetConfig } = __nccwpck_require__(6921)
 
-async function handleVersioningByExtension(ext, file, versionPath, releaseType) {
-  const versioning = getVersioning(ext)
-
-  // File type isn't supported
-  if (versioning === null) {
-    throw new Error(`File extension "${ext}" from file "${file}" is not supported`)
-  }
+async function handleVersioningByExtension(ext, file, versionPath, releaseType, skipBump) {
+  const fileLocation = path.resolve(process.cwd(), file)
+  const versioning = getVersioning(ext, fileLocation)
 
-  versioning.init(path.resolve(process.cwd(), file), versionPath)
+  versioning.init(fileLocation, versionPath)
 
   // Bump the version in the package.json
-  await versioning.bump(releaseType)
+  if(skipBump){
+    // If we are skipping the bump, we either use the old version or alternatively the fallback version
+    const fallbackVersion = core.getInput('fallback-version')
+    versioning.newVersion = versioning.oldVersion || fallbackVersion
+  } else {
+    await versioning.bump(releaseType)
+  }
 
   return versioning
 }
@@ -34781,6 +34833,7 @@ async function run() {
     const skipCi = core.getBooleanInput('skip-ci')
     const createSummary = core.getBooleanInput('create-summary')
     const prerelease = core.getBooleanInput('pre-release')
+    const skipBump = core.getBooleanInput('skip-bump')
 
     if (skipCi) {
       gitCommitMessage += ' [skip ci]'
@@ -34812,6 +34865,10 @@ async function run() {
       core.info(`Using "${preChangelogGenerationFile}" as pre-changelog-generation script`)
     }
 
+    if(skipBump) {
+      core.info('Skipping bumping the version')
+    }
+
     core.info(`Skipping empty releases is "${skipEmptyRelease ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}"`)
     core.info(`Skipping the update of the version file is "${skipVersionFile ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}"`)
 
@@ -34850,12 +34907,12 @@ async function run() {
         'git',
         versionFile,
         versionPath,
-        recommendation.releaseType
+        recommendation.releaseType,
+        skipBump
       )
 
-      newVersion = versioning.newVersion
       oldVersion = versioning.oldVersion
-
+      newVersion = versioning.newVersion
     } else {
       const files = versionFile.split(',').map((f) => f.trim())
       core.info(`Files to bump: ${files.join(', ')}`)
@@ -34865,12 +34922,11 @@ async function run() {
           const fileExtension = file.split('.').pop()
           core.info(`Bumping version to file "${file}" with extension "${fileExtension}"`)
 
-          return handleVersioningByExtension(fileExtension, file, versionPath, recommendation.releaseType)
+          return handleVersioningByExtension(fileExtension, file, versionPath, recommendation.releaseType, skipBump)
         })
       )
-
-      newVersion = versioning[0].newVersion
       oldVersion = versioning[0].oldVersion
+      newVersion = versioning[0].newVersion
     }
 
     let gitTag = `${tagPrefix}${newVersion}`
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 04b55d9d..2e01e443 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "conventional-changelog-action",
-  "version": "5.0.0",
+  "version": "5.1.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 2,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "conventional-changelog-action",
-      "version": "5.0.0",
+      "version": "5.1.0",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@actions/core": "^1.10.1",
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 9307a28e..c06d0d1b 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -8,18 +8,20 @@ const changelog = require('./helpers/generateChangelog')
 const requireScript = require('./helpers/requireScript')
 const { loadPreset, loadPresetConfig } = require('./helpers/load-preset')
 
-async function handleVersioningByExtension(ext, file, versionPath, releaseType) {
-  const versioning = getVersioning(ext)
+async function handleVersioningByExtension(ext, file, versionPath, releaseType, skipBump) {
+  const fileLocation = path.resolve(process.cwd(), file)
+  const versioning = getVersioning(ext, fileLocation)
 
-  // File type isn't supported
-  if (versioning === null) {
-    throw new Error(`File extension "${ext}" from file "${file}" is not supported`)
-  }
-
-  versioning.init(path.resolve(process.cwd(), file), versionPath)
+  versioning.init(fileLocation, versionPath)
 
   // Bump the version in the package.json
-  await versioning.bump(releaseType)
+  if(skipBump){
+    // If we are skipping the bump, we either use the old version or alternatively the fallback version
+    const fallbackVersion = core.getInput('fallback-version')
+    versioning.newVersion = versioning.oldVersion || fallbackVersion
+  } else {
+    await versioning.bump(releaseType)
+  }
 
   return versioning
 }
@@ -51,6 +53,7 @@ async function run() {
     const skipCi = core.getBooleanInput('skip-ci')
     const createSummary = core.getBooleanInput('create-summary')
     const prerelease = core.getBooleanInput('pre-release')
+    const skipBump = core.getBooleanInput('skip-bump')
 
     if (skipCi) {
       gitCommitMessage += ' [skip ci]'
@@ -82,6 +85,10 @@ async function run() {
       core.info(`Using "${preChangelogGenerationFile}" as pre-changelog-generation script`)
     }
 
+    if(skipBump) {
+      core.info('Skipping bumping the version')
+    }
+
     core.info(`Skipping empty releases is "${skipEmptyRelease ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}"`)
     core.info(`Skipping the update of the version file is "${skipVersionFile ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}"`)
 
@@ -120,12 +127,12 @@ async function run() {
         'git',
         versionFile,
         versionPath,
-        recommendation.releaseType
+        recommendation.releaseType,
+        skipBump
       )
 
-      newVersion = versioning.newVersion
       oldVersion = versioning.oldVersion
-
+      newVersion = versioning.newVersion
     } else {
       const files = versionFile.split(',').map((f) => f.trim())
       core.info(`Files to bump: ${files.join(', ')}`)
@@ -135,12 +142,11 @@ async function run() {
           const fileExtension = file.split('.').pop()
           core.info(`Bumping version to file "${file}" with extension "${fileExtension}"`)
 
-          return handleVersioningByExtension(fileExtension, file, versionPath, recommendation.releaseType)
+          return handleVersioningByExtension(fileExtension, file, versionPath, recommendation.releaseType, skipBump)
         })
       )
-
-      newVersion = versioning[0].newVersion
       oldVersion = versioning[0].oldVersion
+      newVersion = versioning[0].newVersion
     }
 
     let gitTag = `${tagPrefix}${newVersion}`
diff --git a/src/version/base.js b/src/version/base.js
index dc341cbe..c4b3909f 100644
--- a/src/version/base.js
+++ b/src/version/base.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ module.exports = class BaseVersioning {
   newVersion = null
 
   oldVersion = null
+
   /**
    * Set some basic configurations
    *
@@ -19,6 +20,14 @@ module.exports = class BaseVersioning {
   init = (fileLocation, versionPath) => {
     this.fileLocation = fileLocation
     this.versionPath = versionPath
+    this.parseFile()
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Abstract method for parsing the file
+   */
+  parseFile = () => {
+    throw new Error('Implement parseFile logic in class!')
   }
 
   /**
@@ -26,7 +35,7 @@ module.exports = class BaseVersioning {
    *
    * @return {string}
    */
-  read = () => {
+  readFile = () => {
     if (fs.existsSync(this.fileLocation)) {
       return fs.readFileSync(this.fileLocation, 'utf8')
     }
diff --git a/src/version/git.js b/src/version/git.js
index 5d6ec091..464b9240 100644
--- a/src/version/git.js
+++ b/src/version/git.js
@@ -6,6 +6,13 @@ const bumpVersion = require('../helpers/bumpVersion')
 
 module.exports = class Git extends BaseVersioning {
 
+  /**
+   * Left empty to override the parent's abstract method, which would throw an error
+   */
+  parseFile = () => {
+
+  }
+
   bump = async(releaseType) => {
     const tagPrefix = core.getInput('tag-prefix')
     const prerelease = core.getBooleanInput('pre-release')
diff --git a/src/version/index.js b/src/version/index.js
index a82b3b51..7c9e8061 100644
--- a/src/version/index.js
+++ b/src/version/index.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const Yaml = require('./yaml')
 const Toml = require('./toml')
 const Mix = require('./mix')
 
-module.exports = (fileExtension) => {
+module.exports = (fileExtension, filePath) => {
   switch (fileExtension.toLowerCase()) {
     case 'json':
       return new Json()
@@ -23,6 +23,6 @@ module.exports = (fileExtension) => {
       return new Mix()
 
     default:
-      return null
+      throw new Error(`File extension "${fileExtension}" from file "${filePath}" is not supported`)
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/version/json.js b/src/version/json.js
index 71e72a1e..043269cb 100644
--- a/src/version/json.js
+++ b/src/version/json.js
@@ -6,33 +6,38 @@ const bumpVersion = require('../helpers/bumpVersion')
 
 module.exports = class Json extends BaseVersioning {
 
+  eol = null
+  jsonContent = {}
+
   /**
-   * Bumps the version in the package.json
-   *
-   * @param {!string} releaseType - The type of release
-   * @return {*}
+   * Reads and parses the json file
    */
-  bump = async (releaseType) => {
+  parseFile = () => {
     // Read the file
-    const fileContent = this.read()
+    const fileContent = this.readFile()
 
     // Parse the file
-    let jsonContent
-    let eol = fileContent.endsWith('\n') ? '\n' : ''
+    this.eol = fileContent.endsWith('\n') ? '\n' : ''
     try {
-      jsonContent = JSON.parse(fileContent)
+      this.jsonContent = JSON.parse(fileContent)
     } catch (error) {
       core.startGroup(`Error when parsing the file '${this.fileLocation}'`)
       core.info(`File-Content: ${fileContent}`)
       core.info(error) // should be 'warning' ?
       core.endGroup()
-
-      jsonContent = {}
     }
 
     // Get the old version
-    this.oldVersion = objectPath.get(jsonContent, this.versionPath, null)
+    this.oldVersion = objectPath.get(this.jsonContent, this.versionPath, null)
+  }
 
+  /**
+   * Bumps the version in the package.json
+   *
+   * @param {!string} releaseType - The type of release
+   * @return {*}
+   */
+  bump = async (releaseType) => {
     // Get the new version
     this.newVersion = await bumpVersion(
       releaseType,
@@ -42,11 +47,11 @@ module.exports = class Json extends BaseVersioning {
     core.info(`Bumped file "${this.fileLocation}" from "${this.oldVersion}" to "${this.newVersion}"`)
 
     // Update the content with the new version
-    objectPath.set(jsonContent, this.versionPath, this.newVersion)
+    objectPath.set(this.jsonContent, this.versionPath, this.newVersion)
 
     // Update the file
     this.update(
-      JSON.stringify(jsonContent, null, 2) + eol
+      JSON.stringify(this.jsonContent, null, 2) + this.eol
     )
   }
 
diff --git a/src/version/mix.js b/src/version/mix.js
index 58bed964..6738014d 100644
--- a/src/version/mix.js
+++ b/src/version/mix.js
@@ -2,30 +2,39 @@ const BaseVersioning = require('./base')
 const bumpVersion = require('../helpers/bumpVersion')
 
 module.exports = class Mix extends BaseVersioning {
+
+  fileContent = null
+
   /**
-   * Bumps the version in the package.json
-   *
-   * @param {!string} releaseType - The type of release
-   * @return {*}
+   * Reads and parses the mix file
    */
-  bump = async(releaseType) => {
+  parseFile = () => {
     // Read the file
-    const fileContent = this.read()
+    this.fileContent = this.readFile()
 
-    const [_, oldVersion] = fileContent.match(/version: "([0-9.]+)"/i)
+    // Parse the file
+    const [_, oldVersion] = this.fileContent.match(/version: "([0-9.]+)"/i)
     this.oldVersion = oldVersion
 
     if (!this.oldVersion) {
       throw new Error(`Failed to extract mix project version.`)
     }
+  }
 
+  /**
+   * Bumps the version in the package.json
+   *
+   * @param {!string} releaseType - The type of release
+   * @return {*}
+   */
+  bump = async(releaseType) => {
     this.newVersion = await bumpVersion(
       releaseType,
       this.oldVersion
     )
 
     this.update(
-      fileContent.replace(`version: "${this.oldVersion}"`, `version: "${this.newVersion}"`)
+      this.fileContent.replace(`version: "${this.oldVersion}"`, `version: "${this.newVersion}"`)
     )
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/version/toml.js b/src/version/toml.js
index 84b35ae3..b43fae03 100644
--- a/src/version/toml.js
+++ b/src/version/toml.js
@@ -7,6 +7,21 @@ const bumpVersion = require('../helpers/bumpVersion')
 
 module.exports = class Toml extends BaseVersioning {
 
+  tomlContent = null
+  fileContent = null
+
+  /**
+   * Reads and parses the toml file
+   */
+  parseFile = () => {
+    // Read the file
+    this.fileContent = this.readFile()
+
+    // Parse the file
+    this.tomlContent = toml.parse(this.fileContent)
+    this.oldVersion = objectPath.get(this.tomlContent, this.versionPath, null)
+  }
+
   /**
    * Bumps the version in the package.json
    *
@@ -14,11 +29,6 @@ module.exports = class Toml extends BaseVersioning {
    * @return {*}
    */
   bump = async (releaseType) => {
-    // Read the file
-    const fileContent = this.read()
-    const tomlContent = toml.parse(fileContent)
-    this.oldVersion = objectPath.get(tomlContent, this.versionPath, null)
-
     // Get the new version
     this.newVersion = await bumpVersion(
       releaseType,
@@ -34,15 +44,15 @@ module.exports = class Toml extends BaseVersioning {
 
       this.update(
         // We use replace instead of yaml.stringify so we can preserve white spaces and comments
-        fileContent.replace(
+        this.fileContent.replace(
           `${versionName} = "${this.oldVersion}"`,
           `${versionName} = "${this.newVersion}"`,
         ),
       )
     } else {
       // Update the content with the new version
-      objectPath.set(tomlContent, this.versionPath, this.newVersion)
-      this.update(toml.stringify(tomlContent))
+      objectPath.set(this.tomlContent, this.versionPath, this.newVersion)
+      this.update(toml.stringify(this.tomlContent))
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/version/yaml.js b/src/version/yaml.js
index 2a335019..5a8214c0 100644
--- a/src/version/yaml.js
+++ b/src/version/yaml.js
@@ -7,6 +7,21 @@ const bumpVersion = require('../helpers/bumpVersion')
 
 module.exports = class Yaml extends BaseVersioning {
 
+  fileContent = null
+  yamlContent = null
+
+  /**
+   * Reads and parses the yaml file
+   */
+  parseFile = () => {
+    // Read the file
+    this.fileContent = this.readFile()
+    
+    // Parse the file
+    this.yamlContent = yaml.parse(this.fileContent) || {}
+    this.oldVersion = objectPath.get(this.yamlContent, this.versionPath, null)
+  }
+
   /**
    * Bumps the version in the package.json
    *
@@ -14,11 +29,6 @@ module.exports = class Yaml extends BaseVersioning {
    * @return {*}
    */
   bump = async (releaseType) => {
-    // Read the file
-    const fileContent = this.read()
-    const yamlContent = yaml.parse(fileContent) || {}
-    this.oldVersion = objectPath.get(yamlContent, this.versionPath, null)
-
     // Get the new version
     this.newVersion = await bumpVersion(
       releaseType,
@@ -35,7 +45,7 @@ module.exports = class Yaml extends BaseVersioning {
       this.update(
         // We use replace instead of yaml.stringify so we can preserve white spaces and comments
         // Replace if version was used with single quotes
-        fileContent.replace(
+        this.fileContent.replace(
           `${versionName}: '${this.oldVersion}'`,
           `${versionName}: '${this.newVersion}'`,
         ).replace( // Replace if version was used with double quotes
@@ -48,8 +58,8 @@ module.exports = class Yaml extends BaseVersioning {
       )
     } else {
       // Update the content with the new version
-      objectPath.set(yamlContent, this.versionPath, this.newVersion)
-      this.update(yaml.stringify(yamlContent))
+      objectPath.set(this.yamlContent, this.versionPath, this.newVersion)
+      this.update(yaml.stringify(this.yamlContent))
     }
   }