diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 865b143f..bdcd5673 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ pdf:
 publish:
 	@$(MAKE) -C docs publish
 release:
-	@$(MAKE) VERSION=$(VERSION) -C docs release
+	@$(MAKE) -C docs release
 
 stats:
 	@$(MAKE) -C docs stats