diff --git a/release/build_release2.sh b/release/build_release2.sh
index 9378bb723..ad8637556 100755
--- a/release/build_release2.sh
+++ b/release/build_release2.sh
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ else
   git checkout --orphan release2-staging
 fi
 
-VERSION=$(cat selfdrive/common/version.h | awk -F\" '{print $2}')
+VERSION=$(cat selfdrive/common/version.h | awk awk -F[\"-]  '{print $2}')
+echo "#define COMMA_VERSION \"$VERSION-release\"" > selfdrive/common/version.h
+
 git commit -m "openpilot v$VERSION"
 
 # Build signed panda firmware