diff --git a/selfdrive/thermald/thermald.py b/selfdrive/thermald/thermald.py
index 9256d0345a..bcd3f18883 100755
--- a/selfdrive/thermald/thermald.py
+++ b/selfdrive/thermald/thermald.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from selfdrive.loggerd.config import get_available_percent
 from selfdrive.pandad import get_expected_signature
 from selfdrive.swaglog import cloudlog
 from selfdrive.thermald.power_monitoring import PowerMonitoring
-from selfdrive.version import get_git_branch, terms_version, training_version
+from selfdrive.version import tested_branch, terms_version, training_version
 
 FW_SIGNATURE = get_expected_signature()
 
@@ -151,7 +151,6 @@ def thermald_thread():
   started_seen = False
   thermal_status = ThermalStatus.green
   usb_power = True
-  current_branch = get_git_branch()
 
   network_type = NetworkType.none
   network_strength = NetworkStrength.unknown
@@ -333,7 +332,7 @@ def thermald_thread():
     last_update_exception = params.get("LastUpdateException", encoding='utf8')
 
     if update_failed_count > 15 and last_update_exception is not None:
-      if current_branch in ["release2", "dashcam"]:
+      if tested_branch:
         extra_text = "Ensure the software is correctly installed"
       else:
         extra_text = last_update_exception
diff --git a/selfdrive/version.py b/selfdrive/version.py
index 4289d5ca93..d721ba61e3 100644
--- a/selfdrive/version.py
+++ b/selfdrive/version.py
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ from common.basedir import BASEDIR
 from selfdrive.swaglog import cloudlog
 
 
+TESTED_BRANCHES = ['devel', 'release2-staging', 'release3-staging', 'dashcam-staging', 'release2', 'release3', 'dashcam']
+
+
 def run_cmd(cmd: List[str]) -> str:
     return subprocess.check_output(cmd, encoding='utf8').strip()
 
@@ -60,7 +63,7 @@ commit = get_git_commit()
 if (origin is not None) and (branch is not None):
   try:
     comma_remote = origin.startswith('git@github.com:commaai') or origin.startswith('https://github.com/commaai')
-    tested_branch = get_git_branch() in ['devel', 'release2-staging', 'dashcam-staging', 'release2', 'dashcam']
+    tested_branch = get_git_branch() in TESTED_BRANCHES
 
     dirty = False