diff --git a/tools/build/onos-release b/tools/build/onos-release
index 4cb931f..1546fb2 100755
--- a/tools/build/onos-release
+++ b/tools/build/onos-release
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 # Change the version
 onos-change-version $NEW_VERSION
+export ONOS_VERSION=$NEW_VERSION
 
 # Build ONOS & deploy to staging repo using the release profile.
 onos-build && onos-package && mvn -Prelease clean deploy -DskipTests