diff --git a/src/backend/github.rs b/src/backend/github.rs
index 5866b1446b..317545b0c3 100644
--- a/src/backend/github.rs
+++ b/src/backend/github.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use crate::backend::asset_detector;
 use crate::backend::backend_type::BackendType;
 use crate::backend::static_helpers::lookup_platform_key;
 use crate::backend::static_helpers::{
-    get_filename_from_url, install_artifact, template_string, verify_artifact,
+    get_filename_from_url, install_artifact, template_string, try_with_v_prefix, verify_artifact,
 };
 use crate::cli::args::BackendArg;
 use crate::config::Config;
@@ -206,56 +206,6 @@ impl UnifiedGitBackend {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Helper to try both prefixed and non-prefixed tags for a resolver function
-    async fn try_with_v_prefix<F, Fut>(&self, version: &str, resolver: F) -> Result<String>
-    where
-        F: Fn(String) -> Fut,
-        Fut: std::future::Future<Output = Result<String>>,
-    {
-        let mut errors = vec![];
-        let opts = self.ba.opts();
-
-        // Generate candidates based on version prefix configuration
-        let candidates = if let Some(prefix) = opts.get("version_prefix") {
-            // If a custom prefix is configured, try both prefixed and non-prefixed versions
-            if version.starts_with(prefix) {
-                vec![
-                    version.to_string(),
-                    version.trim_start_matches(prefix).to_string(),
-                ]
-            } else {
-                vec![format!("{}{}", prefix, version), version.to_string()]
-            }
-        } else {
-            // Fall back to 'v' prefix logic
-            if version.starts_with('v') {
-                vec![
-                    version.to_string(),
-                    version.trim_start_matches('v').to_string(),
-                ]
-            } else {
-                vec![format!("v{version}"), version.to_string()]
-            }
-        };
-
-        for candidate in candidates {
-            match resolver(candidate.clone()).await {
-                Ok(url) => return Ok(url),
-                Err(e) => {
-                    let is_404 = crate::http::error_code(&e) == Some(404);
-                    if is_404 {
-                        errors.push(e);
-                    } else {
-                        return Err(e);
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        Err(errors
-            .pop()
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| eyre::eyre!("No matching release found for {version}")))
-    }
-
     /// Resolves the asset URL using either explicit patterns or auto-detection
     async fn resolve_asset_url(
         &self,
@@ -270,14 +220,15 @@ impl UnifiedGitBackend {
         }
 
         let version = &tv.version;
+        let version_prefix = opts.get("version_prefix").map(|s| s.as_str());
         if self.is_gitlab() {
-            self.try_with_v_prefix(version, |candidate| async move {
+            try_with_v_prefix(version, version_prefix, |candidate| async move {
                 self.resolve_gitlab_asset_url(tv, opts, repo, api_url, &candidate)
                     .await
             })
             .await
         } else {
-            self.try_with_v_prefix(version, |candidate| async move {
+            try_with_v_prefix(version, version_prefix, |candidate| async move {
                 self.resolve_github_asset_url(tv, opts, repo, api_url, &candidate)
                     .await
             })
diff --git a/src/backend/static_helpers.rs b/src/backend/static_helpers.rs
index 8da21e8d8c..82a8e6193f 100644
--- a/src/backend/static_helpers.rs
+++ b/src/backend/static_helpers.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,59 @@ use crate::ui::progress_report::SingleReport;
 use eyre::{Result, bail};
 use std::path::Path;
 
+/// Helper to try both prefixed and non-prefixed tags for a resolver function
+pub async fn try_with_v_prefix<F, Fut, T>(
+    version: &str,
+    version_prefix: Option<&str>,
+    resolver: F,
+) -> Result<T>
+where
+    F: Fn(String) -> Fut,
+    Fut: std::future::Future<Output = Result<T>>,
+{
+    let mut errors = vec![];
+
+    // Generate candidates based on version prefix configuration
+    let candidates = if let Some(prefix) = version_prefix {
+        // If a custom prefix is configured, try both prefixed and non-prefixed versions
+        if version.starts_with(prefix) {
+            vec![
+                version.to_string(),
+                version.trim_start_matches(prefix).to_string(),
+            ]
+        } else {
+            vec![format!("{}{}", prefix, version), version.to_string()]
+        }
+    } else {
+        // Fall back to 'v' prefix logic
+        if version.starts_with('v') {
+            vec![
+                version.to_string(),
+                version.trim_start_matches('v').to_string(),
+            ]
+        } else {
+            vec![format!("v{version}"), version.to_string()]
+        }
+    };
+
+    for candidate in candidates {
+        match resolver(candidate.clone()).await {
+            Ok(res) => return Ok(res),
+            Err(e) => {
+                let is_404 = crate::http::error_code(&e) == Some(404);
+                if is_404 {
+                    errors.push(e);
+                } else {
+                    return Err(e);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    Err(errors
+        .pop()
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| eyre::eyre!("No matching release found for {version}")))
+}
+
 /// Returns all possible aliases for the current platform (os, arch),
 /// with the preferred spelling first (macos/x64, linux/x64, etc).
 pub fn platform_aliases() -> Vec<(String, String)> {
diff --git a/src/backend/ubi.rs b/src/backend/ubi.rs
index 6c67c0d232..dfb61cefaf 100644
--- a/src/backend/ubi.rs
+++ b/src/backend/ubi.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use crate::backend::backend_type::BackendType;
+use crate::backend::static_helpers::try_with_v_prefix;
 use crate::cli::args::BackendArg;
 use crate::config::{Config, Settings};
 use crate::env::{
@@ -108,19 +109,8 @@ impl Backend for UbiBackend {
         ctx: &InstallContext,
         mut tv: ToolVersion,
     ) -> eyre::Result<ToolVersion> {
-        let mut v = tv.version.to_string();
+        let v = tv.version.to_string();
         let opts = tv.request.options();
-        let forge = match opts.get("provider") {
-            Some(forge) => ForgeType::from_str(forge)?,
-            None => ForgeType::default(),
-        };
-        let api_url = match opts.get("api_url") {
-            Some(api_url) => api_url.strip_suffix("/").unwrap_or(api_url),
-            None => match forge {
-                ForgeType::GitHub => github::API_URL,
-                ForgeType::GitLab => gitlab::API_URL,
-            },
-        };
         let bin_path = opts
             .get("bin_path")
             .cloned()
@@ -128,37 +118,24 @@ impl Backend for UbiBackend {
         let extract_all = opts.get("extract_all").is_some_and(|v| v == "true");
         let bin_dir = tv.install_path();
 
-        if !name_is_url(&self.tool_name()) {
-            let release: Result<_, eyre::Report> = match forge {
-                ForgeType::GitHub => github::get_release_for_url(api_url, &self.tool_name(), &v)
-                    .await
-                    .map(|_| "github"),
-                ForgeType::GitLab => gitlab::get_release_for_url(api_url, &self.tool_name(), &v)
+        if name_is_url(&self.tool_name()) {
+            install(&self.tool_name(), &v, &bin_dir, extract_all, &opts).await?;
+        } else {
+            try_with_v_prefix(&v, None, |candidate| {
+                let opts = opts.clone();
+                let bin_dir = bin_dir.clone();
+                async move {
+                    install(
+                        &self.tool_name(),
+                        &candidate,
+                        &bin_dir,
+                        extract_all,
+                        &opts,
+                    )
                     .await
-                    .map(|_| "gitlab"),
-            };
-            if let Err(err) = release {
-                // this can fail with a rate limit error or 404, either way, try prefixing and if it fails, try without the prefix
-                // if http::error_code(&err) == Some(404) {
-                debug!(
-                    "Failed to get release for {}, trying with 'v' prefix: {}",
-                    tv, err
-                );
-                v = format!("v{v}");
-                // }
-            }
-        }
-
-        if let Err(err) = install(&self.tool_name(), &v, &bin_dir, extract_all, &opts).await {
-            debug!(
-                "Failed to install with ubi version '{}': {}, trying with '{}'",
-                v, err, tv
-            );
-            if let Err(err) =
-                install(&self.tool_name(), &tv.version, &bin_dir, extract_all, &opts).await
-            {
-                bail!("Failed to install with ubi '{}': {}", tv, err);
-            }
+                }
+            })
+            .await?;
         }
 
         let mut possible_exes = vec![