diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 97bb646..3084ae7 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -128,6 +128,6 @@ release:
 	cp -r include i3status-${VERSION}
 	cp -r yajl-fallback i3status-${VERSION}
 	cp -r contrib i3status-${VERSION}
-	sed -e 's/^I3STATUS_VERSION:=\(.*\)/I3STATUS_VERSION=${I3STATUS_VERSION}/g;s/^VERSION:=\(.*\)/VERSION=${VERSION}/g' Makefile > i3status-${VERSION}/Makefile
+	echo ${I3STATUS_VERSION} > i3status-${VERSION}/I3STATUS_VERSION
 	tar cjf i3status-${VERSION}.tar.bz2 i3status-${VERSION}
 	rm -rf i3status-${VERSION}