diff --git a/docs/dev-tools/backends/github.md b/docs/dev-tools/backends/github.md
index 82f5625a29..8a5859f1ab 100644
--- a/docs/dev-tools/backends/github.md
+++ b/docs/dev-tools/backends/github.md
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ Specifies a custom version prefix for release tags. By default, mise handles the
 
 When `version_prefix` is configured, mise will:
 
-- Strip the prefix when listing available versions
+- Filter available versions with the prefix and strip it
 - Add the prefix when searching for releases
 - Try both prefixed and non-prefixed versions during installation
 
diff --git a/docs/dev-tools/backends/gitlab.md b/docs/dev-tools/backends/gitlab.md
index aba8cdff03..adb8e6276a 100644
--- a/docs/dev-tools/backends/gitlab.md
+++ b/docs/dev-tools/backends/gitlab.md
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ Specifies a custom version prefix for release tags. By default, mise handles the
 
 When `version_prefix` is configured, mise will:
 
-- Strip the prefix when listing available versions
+- Filter available versions with the prefix and strip it
 - Add the prefix when searching for releases
 - Try both prefixed and non-prefixed versions during installation
 
diff --git a/src/backend/github.rs b/src/backend/github.rs
index c05f1d7dab..999becec88 100644
--- a/src/backend/github.rs
+++ b/src/backend/github.rs
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ impl Backend for UnifiedGitBackend {
             let releases = gitlab::list_releases_from_url(api_url.as_str(), &repo).await?;
             Ok(releases
                 .into_iter()
+                .filter(|r| {
+                    opts.get("version_prefix")
+                        .is_none_or(|p| r.tag_name.starts_with(p))
+                })
                 .map(|r| self.strip_version_prefix(&r.tag_name))
                 .rev()
                 .collect())
@@ -52,6 +56,10 @@ impl Backend for UnifiedGitBackend {
             let releases = github::list_releases_from_url(api_url.as_str(), &repo).await?;
             Ok(releases
                 .into_iter()
+                .filter(|r| {
+                    opts.get("version_prefix")
+                        .is_none_or(|p| r.tag_name.starts_with(p))
+                })
                 .map(|r| self.strip_version_prefix(&r.tag_name))
                 .rev()
                 .collect())