diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0d9f672..36a8970 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ out/airgap.iso: Containerfile $(shell git ls-files rootfs)
 	docker build \
 		--progress=plain \
 		--output type=local,dest=out \
-		--build-arg VERSION="$(or $(VERSION),"development")" \
+		--build-arg VERSION="$(VERSION)" \
 		--build-arg GIT_REF="$(GIT_REF)" \
 		--build-arg GIT_AUTHOR="$(GIT_AUTHOR)" \
 		--build-arg GIT_KEY="$(GIT_KEY)" \