diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index f8650c511..730e42964 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ on:
         options:
           - RC
           - GA
+      rc_version:
+        type: string
+        default: ''
+        description: 'If candidate is RC, set a version like RC1 or RC2, else leave it empty'
 
 env:
   JAVA_RELEASE: '23'
@@ -53,7 +57,11 @@ jobs:
           S3_PATH=$PROJECT_VERSION
           CANDIDATE=${{ github.event.inputs.candidate }}
           if [[ "$CANDIDATE" == RC ]]; then
-              PROJECT_VERSION=${PROJECT_VERSION}-RC
+              RC_VERSION = ${{ github.event.inputs.rc_version }}
+              if [[ "$RC_VERSION" == "" ]]; then
+                RC_VERSION = "RC"
+              fi
+              PROJECT_VERSION=${PROJECT_VERSION}-${RC_VERSION}
               S3_PATH=RC/$PROJECT_VERSION
           fi
           echo "Releasing.. "$PROJECT_VERSION