diff --git a/release.nix b/release.nix
index b32ce233ec0..bd740af1c42 100644
--- a/release.nix
+++ b/release.nix
@@ -86,7 +86,8 @@ let
 
         src = nixosSrc;
 
-        inherit officialRelease version versionSuffix;
+        inherit officialRelease version;
+        versionSuffix = lib.optionalString (!officialRelease) versionSuffix;
 
         distPhase = ''
           echo -n $VERSION_SUFFIX > .version-suffix
@@ -111,7 +112,8 @@ let
 
         src = nixosSrc;
 
-        inherit officialRelease version versionSuffix;
+        inherit officialRelease version;
+        versionSuffix = lib.optionalString (!officialRelease) versionSuffix;
 
         buildInputs = [ nixUnstable ];