diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9c7df7e..3822024 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ or
 
 - **pull_image_and_stages**: Set to `false` to avoid pulling from the registry or to build from scratch (default: `true`).
 
-- **stages_image_name**: Set custom name for stages. Useful if using a job matrix (default: `$image_name-stages)`.
+- **stages_image_name**: Set custom name for stages/cache image (default: `${image_name}-stages`). Tags are ignored.
 
 - **push_image_and_stages**: Test a command before pushing. Use `false` to not push at all (default: `true`).
 
diff --git a/docker-build.sh b/docker-build.sh
index f3a3041..7764109 100755
--- a/docker-build.sh
+++ b/docker-build.sh
@@ -268,6 +268,8 @@ init_variables() {
   : "${INPUT_CONTEXT:=.}"
   : "${INPUT_DOCKERFILE:=Dockerfile}"
   : "${GITHUB_OUTPUT:=/dev/stdout}"
+  # ! ignore any tag in the custom cache image name
+  INPUT_STAGES_IMAGE_NAME=${INPUT_STAGES_IMAGE_NAME%:*}
 
   if _is_aws_ecr; then
     if [ -z "$INPUT_USERNAME" ]; then
@@ -383,7 +385,7 @@ _build_image_buildkit() {
   echo -e "\n[Action Step] Building image with BuildKit..."
 
   local cache_image
-  cache_image="$(_get_full_stages_image_name)":latest
+  cache_image="$(_get_full_stages_image_name)":cache
 
   local cache_to
   if _must_push; then